Yuko Kikuchi, former head of academic programs at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), resigned in late January after raising concerns about what she described as “racist” and “culturally insensitive” treatment toward her and her students, according to a report by The Art Newspaper. 

In a letter dated January 26, which has recently been disclosed toThe Art Newspaper, Kikuchi wrote to the V&A director Tristram Hunt and the museum’s research committee of trustees about certain staff behaviors “likely indicat[ing] a culture of systemic racism within the organization.” The letter was supported by 12 academics, including Sonia Boyce from the University of Arts London and Sarah Teasley, former head of the history and design program at the Royal College of Art (RCA). Both universities are partners of V&A’s academic programs.

Kikuchi, who joined the V&A in October 2023, said she experienced microaggressions, felt sidelined in meetings, and faced resistance to decolonial approaches in academic work. She also revealed that she had been advised not to use terms such as “decolonial” and “post-colonial” in communications with senior staff and curators. 

The letter also included accounts from students, who described an environment they felt lacked diversity and that failed to foster open discussion. Speaking anonymously to The Art Newspaper, some recounted instances of “unsafe” learning due to, for example, tutors’ irritable attitudes toward East Asian students as well as a lack of cultural sensitivity in topics regarding slavery and artifact repatriation.

In a February letter responding to Kikuchi, Hunt said the museum’s human resources department had “apologized for aspects of the [internal] process which were not carried out as we would have hoped.” 

After The Art Newspaper approached the V&A and RCA for comments, the institutions issued a joint statement declaring they oppose unlawful discrimination and remain committed to an inclusive curriculum.

Joyce Lee is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.