The Victoria and Albert Museum in London opened its Lost Music Venues exhibition on May 30. The free display at V&A South Kensington features more than 150 objects from around 50 closed clubs and halls across the UK.
The exhibition draws on public donations of posters, membership cards, photographs and merchandise collected after a call last year. It is divided into sections covering the 1980s evolution of dance halls, the 1990s toilet circuit venues and the impact of social media on bands such as Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay. Later sections address ongoing challenges including noise complaints, licensing and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, with contributions from groups such as Music Venue Trust and Save Our Scene.