I was unsure if I wanted to write another opinion piece for the blog- it feels like I am doing a lot of them lately. History has been in the news a lot in the last year, and I’ve got to say, not for great reasons. I think it is important for historians to recognise that, though. The latest news from London is that the V&A will be undergoing massive cuts. And sadly, the proposed cuts would disproportionately affect the Theatre and Performance department. Costume history is at a real risk, and the crisis is here.
Theatre and Costume History
I did an entire post on some of my favourite historic costumes at the V&A in 2019, you can find it here! It is rather a niche area of history, the intersection of fashion history and performing arts history, but I adore it. These historic costumes can tell us a lot about the production(s) that they were used in, but they can also tell us a lot about the skills and garment makers behind them. From Margot Fonteyn’s Swan Lake Odile tutu to a 1910 Boris Gudonov costume, the V&A has some amazing pieces. (If you have a few moments, I would recommend doing a deep dive on the V&A collections site- you will be amazed.)
Costume History In Danger?
As of March 2021, the V&A has proposed significant restructuring and cuts. Like all other museums and cultural organisations, the V&A has undoubtedly faced many challenges in 2020 and 2021. Museums everywhere are struggling to make a loss of almost all of their funding and to adapt to continually changing opening and closing allowances. However, these cuts will have a significant impact on the Theatre collection.
When the theatre museum in Covent Garden closed in 2007, the V&A absorbed their collections. It was controversial at the time, but the Theatre and Performance galleries at the South Kensington Museum have always been popular. The proposed structure is going to dissolve the Department of Theatre and Performance (along with several other departments) and the people that work in it will be spread across newly formed departments. It doesn’t only affect Theatre and Performance (not by a long shot), but given that it is one of the biggest collections of theatre garments, it is massively concerning.
Theatre history tends to be on the periphery. There are hit and miss records, and a lot of theatres only very recently starting keeping any. Historic garments aren’t common, either, as most ballet and theatre companies continue to reuse and recycle costumes for decades until they are falling apart. To know that it is a smaller sub-field anyways and that it is now being devalued by one of the largest museums in the world with one of the biggest performance collections is incredibly upsetting.
What Can We Do to Help Costume History?
If you have a membership at the V&A, give your feedback (and consider if you want to renew it) through any available channels. When you donate to a museum, you can typically direct where your funds go and how they are used, which could mean directing them to performance and costume history. And know that your visits also make a statement- I’m not saying never visit the V&A, but perhaps find other, smaller museums that can use your visits and support.
Most importantly, ask your favourite companies and theatres how they are maintaining their archives and what they are keeping. Many now have their own archivists or at least someone who is ensuring that more things are kept. More funding and donations can go a long way to helping them, and allowing us to preserve and keep these things.
What do you think of the proposed changes and cuts to theatre and performance collections?
Cheers,
The Historian
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