The Smithsonian, the world’s biggest museum and research complex, has abandoned its plan for a bespoke outpost in London and will instead stage joint exhibitions with the V&A on the former Olympic site in east London. Similarly the Smithsonian secretary, David Skorton, said: “This would not be a ‘Smithsonian outpost in London’. The new London mayor, Sadiq Khan, welcomed the transatlantic collaboration as “growing London’s cultural sector is one of my core priorities as mayor”. Both will be part of the new cultural complex being created in Stratford on the site of the London 2012 Olympic games – but not as originally envisaged. He added: “These plans would create an exciting new cultural venue in east London, which will help many more people enjoy the extraordinary collections managed by the Smithsonian and the V&A.

Source: The Guardian June 13, 2016 17:26 UTC