LONDON.- Samsung and the V&A have strengthened their long-standing partnership with the opening of a new mobile Samsung Digital Classroom in the Museum. The first of its kind, the initiative offers a series of creative workshops for 16 – 19 year olds run by leading experts in the fields of design and technology to give practical skills and career advice in emerging areas of digital art and design.

The Samsung Digital Classroom will take workshops out of the classroom and into the galleries, creating immersive and contextual learning. Making use of tablets, laptops and a specially commissioned mobile classroom, workshops can take place in front of the V&A’s treasures, providing inspiration for young artists and designers to use technology as a creative tool.

The workshops, which use the latest in mobile and digital technology are inspired by the V&A’s galleries and exhibitions and are designed to provide young people with digital skills needed to equip them for careers in creative industries including art, fashion, design and product development. Pilot sessions have included a masterclass in 3D printed jewellery with Black Country Atelier and a lesson in photography with award-winning mobile photographer Oliver Lang. Upcoming sessions this year include how to create digital projection art installations and interactives; how to take compelling street photography and how to design and make a piece of wearable technology.

In the mobile Digital Classroom, the facilities move around the Museum to work alongside the range of galleries and objects within the V&A. By utilising the gallery displays to explore digital innovation, the new flexible model will help to highlight the importance of creativity in the Arts underpinning subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), now referred to as STEAM.

The new Samsung Digital Classroom at the V&A is the first ever mobile classroom in the series of Samsung Digital Classrooms throughout the UK. Samsung has a total of 20 digital classrooms nationwide, located in secondary schools, charity partners and cultural institutions to ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn vital digital skills to help them with their studies and in future careers.

Aleyne Johnson, ‎Head of Government Relations and Citizenship at Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland said: “We have been partners with the V&A for over 20 years now, and today we are excited to launch another first, the mobile Samsung Digital Classroom. Together we’re committed to bringing young people sessions that will give them a head start in any future career they wish to pursue. Combining technical knowledge and creativity often leads to the most innovative, successful ideas across all sectors, and we hope that by working with experts in the field, young people will see first-hand the opportunities that lie ahead when technology and the Arts come together.”

Martin Roth, Director of the V&A said: “I’m delighted to continue our partnership with Samsung to create the first ever mobile digital classroom inside a museum. Using new technologies and the V&A’s world renowned collections as inspiration is a compelling way of giving young people exciting and immersive experiences outside of the traditional classroom set-up, while helping them to build up the confidence and skill-set in emerging technologies needed for a career in the arts in the 21st century. The V&A has a vibrant programme of events and activities aimed at fostering the next generation of design talent and the Samsung Digital Classroom is a fantastic addition to this.”

Samsung has been a partner of the V&A since 1992, beginning through its support of the Korean Gallery, the first gallery in London dedicated to Korean Art. Since 2012, Samsung has also supported a dedicated Curator of Korean Art. Samsung collaborated with the V&A as a technology partner on exhibitions such as Hollywood Costume (2012-2013) and more recently Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2015). The Samsung Digital Classroom is the latest initiative between the two partners, being born from their shared passion for digital learning.