Tristram Hunt
@TristramHuntVA
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Director of @V_and_A - the world's greatest museum of art, design & performance
South Kensington
Joined April 2010
As we commemorate those who gave their lives fighting fascism, it is pretty grotesque to have Marine Le Pen on #marr on Remembrance Sunday.
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Just Stoke City’s Stanley Matthews with the Accra Hearts of Oak Football Club 🇬🇭 c/o the Deo Gratias Photo Studio. Happy Centenary!
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@vaguechera @V_and_A .@vaguechera V sorry. Our policy is clear: women may breastfeed wherever they like, wherever they feel comfortable & shld not be disturbed.
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Goodbye Derek. A superbly clever, sharp-witted, entrepreneurial, politically astute figure, almost wrenched from a Martin Amis novel. He had a keen understanding of all human frailties and abilities. Loving husband, Labour man and super Dad. Bloody Covid.
Derek Draper: Kate Garraway says husband has died, aged 56
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Just as the bulldozing of Palmyra & significant heritage sites by ISIS was abhorrent, so US Gov threat to destroy important cultural sites in Iran must be condemned. This is a worrying step towards the normalisation of cultural destruction as a war aim
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A great first day @V_and_A understanding the culture & collections of this superb museum - and, of course, finding the canteen.
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Really shocking news. A great collection in a great city, with a proud history of scholarship, curatorial practice and public access.
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So happy to end a good week for @V_and_A with news of our successful campaign to retain this sublime medieval carving for the nation. On show. Forever. For free.
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This is a BIG deal. Wouldn’t it be nice to have this superb tapestry on show for free at a public museum - like @V_and_A - in time for Field of Cloth of Gold anniversary. ???
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London's museums - their cosmopolitanism, culture, & exchange - are a standing riposte to Sat's terror. @V_and_A is open at 10am as usual.
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For fans of #MarieAntoinette the Sutherland necklace is now on show @V_and_A The connection is not wholly proven, but these Type IIA diamonds certainly do sparkle
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“The curriculum is in danger of being narrowed to an academic core, depriving students of broader opportunities which inspire many into careers in the creative and design industries and damaging this vital sector of the British economy.”
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Jo Cox was a dedicated internationalist, passionate social justice campaigner, brilliant MP, & loving mother. Her death is too wretched. RIP.
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Welcome back! @V_and_A reopens on Thursday 6th August. Sanitise your hands; not your experience.
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Why going ahead with our upcoming Iran exhibition @V_and_A is more important than ever. And why Donald Trump's threat to cultural sites is against everything Abraham Lincoln stood for.
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Help @V_and_A save one of the finest medieval carvings for the nation! Deposition from the Cross is a resounding image of God-made-man, & tells the story of early English humanism. We must raise £2 million to keep it on display, for free, for everyone
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The Potteries in The Palace. A lifetime ambition achieved, as I finally catch up with Josiah Wedgwood’s Frog Service designed for Catherine the Great. Here is Etruria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, quietly sat in Room 300 of St Petersburg’s @state_hermitage
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The best way to respect the kimono is to tell its story not as an exotic treasure, but as a sophisticated garment that has shaped fashion, reflected society, travelled the globe, fallen from grace & staged comebacks over a 400-year history - now @V_and_A
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.@jeremycorbyn right to highlight the devastating impact Cameron's Housing Bill will have on communities.
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So sorry to hear of the death of Sir Terence Conran: a British visionary with a radical belief in the public’s right to great design. A generous, supportive & long time, if sometimes frustrated, friend to @V_and_A. A great loss to UK art, design & culture.
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We need a leader who can hold Boris to account, stand up for Labour voters & be ready to walk through door of No10
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Art Matters: why the return to school cannot mean a further assault on creativity in the classroom. When museums like @V_and_A reopen, we need to put education at the heart of our mission
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Absolutely appalled by that divisive, hate-filled poster from UKIP today. Vote Leave should be ashamed to be on the same platform as Farage.
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This week I am celebrating my 5-year anniversary as Director of @v_and_a and here are some of my favourite moments so far… a thread:.
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V disturbing comments from Dan Moynihan @HarrisFed : studying the arts is antithetical to ‘success.’ Not a credible position for a publicly funded school leader to take.
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And here is my Top 5 wonder objects for every child to have a look at. Starting, of course, with @V_and_A Tipu's Tiger.
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Our new plan @V_and_A to share our collections, promote design education, & partner with museums & schools in Midlands & North to whom we at S Ken owe a profound debt.
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This is news: London is home to the most popular art museums - In. The. World. (With the @V_and_A making the top ten).
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Today @Labour set out a five point plan to end homophobia, biphobia & transphobia in schools: http://t.co/862HkzbyZe
http://t.co/HfI6B0ADfE.
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Put aside your Brexit backstop, Brady amendment, & Malthouse via media. Come & see the @V_and_A ‘greatest fashion show ever.’ Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams.
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The @V_and_A Rapid Response collecting team get to work. Museum of Covid-19: the story of the crisis told through everyday objects
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Tomorrow @V_and_A hosts our Jo Cox Trail across the museum as part of #greatgetogether in honour of wonderful Jo
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In an era of chauvinism, weakening democracy & reductive identity politics: Why. Museums. Matter. @artnewspaper
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At last, deep common sense from Alan Johnson about the hugely generous & deeply patriotic David Sainsbury donations
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It’s a double! Thanks to all @young_vam colleagues for this incredible achievement. We will be using the generous @artfund prize money to support creative education & playful learning along the Thames Estuary.
Young V&A WINS #MuseumOfTheYear 2024 and the £120,000 prize. 🏆. Congratulations to the team! @young_vam 🎉
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Hi, I’m Chloe, and I have taken over Tristram Hunt’s twitter feed as part of Kids in Museums #TakeoverDay.
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So happy to welcome #LittleAmal to @V_and_A today for 10th Birthday celebrations with @ottolenghi cakes. One of our founding figures - Gottfried Semper - was a political refugee from 1848 Revolutions & the debts continue to be honoured…
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Great news: the superb Smithsonian African Art leader, scholar & broadcaster Gus Casely-Hayford is joining @V_and_A as Director of V&A East #Eastbank @noordinarypark @HereEast.
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Gus Casely-Hayford, renowned museum director, cultural historian, writer and broadcaster, as our first ever V&A East Director! He’ll join us in spring 2020. Find out more here :
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Super proud of all our education & learning team @V_and_A as we are named Best Museum Visit at School Travel Awards. More school trips welcome!
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Just a thought: now is precisely the moment to decant @UKParliament & fast-track restoration programme. The Chamber, lobbies, gallery & canteens simply cannot function as a workplace in an era of social distancing. MPs shld seize the initiative. .
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My 6 years of learning from, working for and laughing with the greatest people of Britain. Thank you.
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Tell that to the millions of people suffering under this heartless Tory government.
@johnmcternan Democracy gives power to people, “Winning” is the small bit that matters to political elites who want to keep power themselves.
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Unbelievably well-written @guardian editorial @PotteryThrow on the importance of place & appreciating the power of clay in The Potteries
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V sorry @sot2021 didn't make it to Year of Culture. Congrats to @Coventry2021 - the @V_and_A is ready to help. But I know all the pride, magic & culture of The Potteries will continue to flourish @BCBfestival @SOTLitFestival @PotteriesMuseum @Wedgwood_Museum @SentinelStaffs.
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Why are museums both so popular & under such sustained criticism?? An investigation of colonialism, collections, & role of museums in age of populism with @tacodibbits @profdanhicks @MarenkaOdlum & many others this morning on @BBCRadio4 11am
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.@johnmcdonnellMP @hazmatt72 @jeremycorbyn and what a progressive message they had. #kindergentlerpolitics
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Congratulations to @jeremycorbyn for a decisive win in the @UKLabour Leadership election. He deserves respect and support as new leader.
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"I do not want art for a few, any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few." Happy May Day from the home of William Morris.
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Fantastic speech from Gordon Brown today: "This is not the Britain I know" #StrongerIn #MoreInCommon
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A real lockdown treat from @V_and_A Curator Anna Jackson giving a behind the scenes tour of our wondrous Kimono exhibition
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Our plans to relaunch @MuseumChildhood as centre for play, creativity, imagination and design, deploying the National Childhood Collection as never before. Best of @V_and_A in heart of Bethnal Green dedicated to nurturing cultural capital
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No good Oliver Letwin apologising for 'any offence caused.' He shld apologise for putting racist & repulsive views at heart of Thatcher gov.
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Sending solidarity and deepest sympathy to our colleagues at the National Museum of Brazil as they face the terrible destruction of so much of their collection
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V strong letter in @guardian on decline of art & design in school curriculum: it's damaging for creativity, competitiveness, happiness & joy #BaccTheArts.
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The Bilbao effect hits Tayside: really encouraging report on the economic impact of @VADundee in Dundee & across Scotland. This clearly shows the broad benefits of strategic cultural investment
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My letter to @NickyMorgan01 asking for clarification on the status of EU national children in our schools
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Well, I was always very proud to represent Stoke-on-Trent Central as a Labour Member of Parliament.
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Great session @V_and_A studio with @neil_brownsword inspiring Stoke students from @Coopacademy to be the next generation of ceramic designers
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The coming role of museums in an age of endless COVID: how we should navigate human connection, the power of objects, & social distancing. And can the exhibition-driven business model still work? My piece for @EveningStandard
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No indicative ballots. No meaningful votes. No promises to resign. Just the @V_and_A delivering its ‘Brexit’ mandate (or, at least, Grayson Perry’s pots) on time.
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Creativity is not just for artists. Really important @ukEdge report on supporting creativity in the classroom launched @MuseumChildhood this morning
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Discovering more things of beauty @V_and_A - from Cast Courts to Trajan columns to rooftop gardens (even a secret beehive)
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Like @KBJWhitstable I greatly admire & respect curators @PMAGCollections & @GladstoneMuseum Their scholarship, exhibition & access work is essential, & Stoke’s economic future needs vibrant heritage tourism. I will read carefully & respond to budget
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Young V&A: 'World's most joyful museum' wins Museum of the Year award - BBC News
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.@V_and_A is honoured to be working with @BlackpoolMuseum on this incredible project for the city, taking our Theatre & Performance collection to the Lancs seascape of illumination
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Tonight the flag @V_and_A is flown at half mast in memory and honour of Sir David Amess. He was a dedicated Parliamentarian, a fearsomely assiduous constituency servant, and a generous, humorous, supportive colleague. After our beloved Jo Cox, this is too wretched. Rest in Peace.
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If we are actually interested in saving The Palace of Westminster & its incredible collections then a) Prospective MPs need to agree to move out before the General Election; b) We need to think about dedicated Lottery funding.
The Palace of Westminster is falling down — and no one will act | opinion.
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Delighted to assist the Republic of Yemen care for its incredible artistic heritage by taking temporary custodianship of these ancient stelae - on sale in an interior design shop! Look forward to @V_and_A returning them to Yemen in near future
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We are very sorry to announce the closure of @V_and_A from today at 17.45. We will be updating as and when we can. Our priority is public health.
The health of our visitors and staff is our highest priority. In line with the latest advice from Public Health England, all V&A sites will temporarily close from 18 March. The latest info can be found on our website. . Thanks for your support, stay well.
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This fire at The Leopard in Burslem is so wretched. A lovely pub & such an important part of Stoke-on-Trent history, as well as the the story of canal building and the Industrial Revolution. I do hope the Wedgwood Institute is secure and protected.
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Brown Betty alert! A beautiful @V_and_A film exploring the history of redware pottery in Stoke-on-Trent and the re-engineering of a classic teapot.
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Delighted to see @ClarenceHouse joining campaign to champion art, design & creativity in English schools. @V_and_A will be there.
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.@V_and_A is hugely saddened by death of Martin Roth - his was a prodigious internationalism & contemporary ambition
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‘Here to defend truth.’ Proud to be @HolocaustUK annual dinner with @afneil dissecting global anti-semitism & need for education #het
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This is what #Brexit looks like. The first of @BorisJohnson job losses come with Siemen's plan to cancel investment
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A joint response from myself and some fellow directors on the welcome go-ahead for reopening museums and galleries. And the awesome challenge we face @V_and_A to remain open in a sustainable manner over the coming months.
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Really delighted by this. So proud @V_and_A is lending more of its collections to more museums across the UK than ever before
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@NoirMJ So good to be reminded, for a moment, why I decided to step away from the comradeship & fraternity of modern party politics. .
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After days of half-truths and spin, Cameron finally admits the truth. Exposes just how little respect he has for the British people.
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Love it. Museums as radical places that celebrate cultural exchange and the spirit of inquiry. They link us with people, places and values | Alice O’Keeffe
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Well said @OwenJones84 - there's no place in politics for divisive, hate-fuelled campaigns like this
As the despicable @ZacGoldsmith sinks further into the gutter, please share my video exposing his vile campaign:
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Inspiring from @nickmerriman01: '21st century museums must look back to the best of the founding impulses of Victorian liberalism, acknowledge and be honest about their problematic colonial history, and re-avow the vital importance of appealing to all.'
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Savage internal leak inquiry launched. .
Exciting news. Major retrospective of 1000 of my jumpers to be curated by @victoriabeckham at V&A this autumn. Yes!!
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