Former V&A Academic Programs Head Accuses Museum of “Racist” Behavior
A letter from Yuko Kikuchi, who resigned in January as head of academic programs at London’s Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, alleges “racist” and “culturally insensitive” behavior and calls on the institution to address a “culture of systemic racism.” In a January 26 letter shared with The Art Newspaper, Kikuchi described pushback on her proposals, microaggressions, and marginalization as the only person of color among senior staff, saying these conditions harmed her mental health; she said she felt unwelcome after joining the V&A in 2023. Kikuchi said that when she proposed adding decolonization material to the V&A/Royal College of Art history of design MA program in 2024, colleagues suggested prioritizing a Eurocentric first term and moving the material to the second term, and a senior colleague allegedly asked her to avoid terms like “decolonial” and “post-colonial.” The letter included signatures from a dozen academics and an appendix of student testimonials; the V&A and RCA issued a joint statement saying they oppose unlawful discrimination, will take reports seriously, and aim to support a global and inclusive curriculum, noting the V&A’s 2025–2026 annual report lists staff as 65% White among those who declared racial identity.
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This story was covered in Restitution Reckonings and Museums on the Brink