The Academy Museum’s collections of instruments, art, photography, manuscripts and scores offer valuable insights into the creative processes of great musicians.
Items on display include stringed instruments by Stradivari and the Amati family, wind instruments such as Dennis Brain’s horn, historic keyboards by Broadwood, Pleyel and Erard, composers’ manuscripts including Purcell’s The Fairy Queen and Vaughan Williams’s Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, and scores and memorabilia that belonged to significant figures from the world of music.
The Museum is an integral part of Academy life. Engaging stories are told through its permanent galleries and programme of changing temporary displays. The Museum regularly holds lecture-recitals, seminars, workshops, special events and family activities, all open to the public for free.
The Museum opened in 2001, supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Many of its collections have Designated status and the Museum itself is Accredited – both chartermarks of quality, awarded and administered by Arts Council England (ACE).