More than two decades ago, the V&A South Kensington launched its Friday Late series, kicking off a museum lates movement that is now ubiquitous across London’s cultural institutions. It’s no surprise then, that the pioneering museum has launched a new series of Thursday lates at its new V&A East Museum, just a few months after it opened on Stratford’s new East Bank precinct.
Kicking off this Thursday, August 27 and running until the end of September, this weekly series will offer visitors late-night access to its collections, DJ residencies, pop-up bars, and talks by artists. What’s more, it’s free to attend.
“Our Thursday late nights at V&A East Museum create a space where music, art, food and conversation meet,” Gus Casely-Hayford, V&A East director said in a statement. “Inspired by The Music is Black: A British Story, they offer new ways to engage with the artists and cultural movements shaping our world today.”
The centrepiece of the series will be Upperground, a series of DJ residences presented in partnership with BBC Introducing (a platform that supports under-the-radar UK music talent) and inspired by the museum’s debut temporary exhibition, The Music is Black: A British Story. Upperground will transform the upper ground level into a late-night dancefloor, fuelled by bespoke cocktails, beers, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks from the pop-up bar from the museum’s on-site all-day eatery, Cafe Jikoni.
This Thursday, DJ Karen Nyame – known as a pioneer of the 2000s UK funky movement – will take to the decks. Subsequent headline DJs include east London-based techno DJ Lo-Low (September 3); BBC Radio 6 host Zakia (September 10); alternative soul artist Demae (September 17); and finally, AG (September 24), known for weaving together grime, garage, drill, R&B and hip-hop.
Another reason to get to the V&A East Museum this Thursday is a talk by artist, photographer and filmmaker Gabriel Moses. The south London creative – known for his collaborations with the likes of Little Simz, Skepta and Dave – will be in conversation with V&A East curator Josephine Small about the influences and experiences that have shaped his work. Over in the Why We Make galleries’ Film Room, visitors can watch a screening of his first narrative-led film, The Last Hour (2025). The talk is currently sold out, but a limited allocation of walk-up tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Those who can tear themselves away from the dancefloor can delve into 125 of Black British music with The Music is Black: A British Story, a journey led by a soundtrack, played through your smart headphones, which takes in everything from The Specials to Skepta, with instruments, outfits and more to get up close to. Visitors will also gain access to the permanent Why We Make collection, too.
V&A East Museum’s Thursday late programme runs from Thursday, August 27 to September 24.
