Originally scheduled to open in spring 2021 but delayed due to the pandemic, the museum underwent a complete redevelopment following a £3.6 million investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with the old building demolished and a new state-of-the-art temporary exhibition built in its place.
Offering visitors and students the unique opportunity to see never-before exhibited items, the permanent display boasts the earliest keyboard instrument with strings and the world's oldest guitar, along with 56 other carefully chosen instruments from RCM’s designated collection of over 15,000 items.
The museum is designed to benefit the education of RCM students, as well as be enjoyable and educational for visitors. RCM students will have access to the instruments and resident experts; they will be able to volunteer for museum-led educational activities aimed at primary, secondary and home-educated children.
The new RCM Museum is intended to be an interactive space that combines historical instruments and new music; The Weston Discovery Centre is a wing of the new museum which gives visitors – including school trips – the opportunity to create their own songs.
The college has one room for the permanent display, which is split into three areas: Music is Creation, Music is Craft and Music is Performance. Artwork is a large element of the permanent exhibition, and in the double-height atrium area a hanging artwork installation by Scottish artist Victoria Morton has been commissioned and created for the space.
Victoria Morton's artwork in the museum
Professor Gabriele Rossi Rognoni, curator of the Royal College of Music Museum and professor of Material Culture and Music, said: ‘The college is very much about music from the distant past, up to composition for screen or video games – the whole range. We wanted to create something that represents the school.
‘While we have instruments here that are over 500 years old, you are welcomed when you walk in by a contemporary art exhibition, which was commissioned by two alumni. It is the first piece of video art developed for the museum – this is the beginning of a new story. Apart from acknowledging our past, the museum is developing and commissioning new things.’
The displays are designed to reflect ‘the three moments of music creation’ according to Rognoni. ‘You start with a spark of an idea, you craft it into an object or a piece, and then you perform it. These are the three areas you will see in the museum.’
‘Everything at the college is about performance – you go in the lift and you find students rehearsing in the lift! So we needed to find a way into this story. Every historical musical instrument in the [Music is Performance area] is playable, making this museum rather special.’
‘I can’t wait to finally invite visitors to experience our quirky, living, breathing collection first-hand. As well as visitors, I am excited to offer our students the unique experience of having such a rich collection on-site, as well as conservation work and historical performances, to complement their education.’
Entry to the RCM Museum is free, but a ticket is required. Tickets can be booked online with a £1.95 booking fee, and some tickets will be available at the door without prior registration. The museum is open Tuesday – Friday, 10.15am – 5.45pm, and Saturday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm.
