On June 17 the China Merchants Group (CMG) and Britain’s Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum signed an agreement to co-establish China’s first large-scale design museum in Shenzhen’s Shekou district. The signing ceremony took place under witness of British Prime Minister David Cameron and Chinese Premiere Li Keqiang during his visit to the UK.

V&A’s COO Tim Reeve commented, “This is an incredibly exciting project for the V&A. It builds on the long history the V&A has of working in and with China to share collections, knowledge and expertise. By working with our trusted partner, CMG, we are able to engage in a meaningful and financially sustainable way with one of the most dynamic design cities in the world at a time when China is emerging at the forefront of new design ideas and creative thinking.”

In this pioneering collaborative effort between a Chinese business and a British public body, the CMG will oversee the project’s development and operations, Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki will design the facility, and the V&A Museum in Britain will direct the Shenzhen museum’s operations, collection, and development, as well as the cultivation of museum staff.

The project is slated for completion in late 2016.

Source material: The Art Newspaper