Taylor Swift lends personal items to UK’s V&A for museum ‘journey’

Entertainment

“Taylor Swift Songbook Trail” is on display at London’s V&A in a temporary summer exhibition from Jun 27 to Sep 8.

Items used in the ‘Speak Now’ World Tour and on the album cover photograph and loaned by Taylor Swift, which forms part of the Taylor Swift Songbook Trail exhibition celebrating the work of the music artist, are displayed at the V&A Museum in London, Britain, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Outfits, musical instruments and other objects on loan from US musician Taylor Swift are going on display at London’s V&A in a temporary summer exhibition.

Titled “Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail” the exhibition is made up of 13 installations dotted across the museum’s many galleries.

“It’s a journey around the museum,” curator Kate Bailey said.

“It follows chapters in Taylor Swift’s career and we highlight the eras and showcase objects and looks worn by Taylor across the different spaces in the museum.”

Employee Saffron poses as she views cowboy boots worn and loaned by Taylor Swift, which form part of the Taylor Swift Songbook Trail exhibition celebrating the work of the music artist at the V&A Museum in London, Britain, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Bailey and her team were given access to Swift’s personal archives to pick items for the theatrically staged installations, which are placed in carefully chosen galleries that connect to moments in the 14-time Grammy winner’s career.

Among the objects on show are customised cowboy boots worn by a young Swift at the start of her career; the wig and facial hair she sported in The Man music video; reproductions of the hand-drawn storyboards for the Willow music video and a golden microphone with snake detail used by Swift, now 34, on the Reputation stadium tour.

Items used in the ‘The Man’ video and loaned by Taylor Swift, which form part of the Taylor Swift Songbook Trail exhibition celebrating the work of the music artist are displayed at the V&A Museum in London, Britain, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Employee Abbey poses as she views a dress from the ‘Bejeweled’ video worn and loaned by Taylor Swift, which forms part of the Taylor Swift Songbook Trail exhibition celebrating the work of the music artist at the V&A Museum in London, Britain, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Also on display are the ukulele played by Swift on the Speak Now world tour and the fisherman cap she wore on the Red (Taylor’s Version) album cover.

“It’s been a really fast-moving project, where I got to select works from the collection,” said Bailey. “I wanted to make sure that we were able to showcase costumes, but also musical instruments, objects that kind of convey her whole career and creativity.”

Employee Abbey poses as she views an outfit from the ‘Fortnight’ video worn and loaned by Taylor Swift, which forms part of the Taylor Swift Songbook Trail exhibition celebrating the work of the music artist at the V&A Museum in London, Britain, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

“It’s the first time we’ve done a trail in this way. And it’s the first time these objects have been seen in the UK. So, it’s incredibly exciting and it’s free.”

“Taylor Swift Songbook Trail” is displayed throughout the V&A South Kensington from Jun 27 to Sep 8. According to the museum the trail takes 60-90 minutes to complete.