Citing a shift in both institutions’ “strategic priorities”, RIBA has announced the conclusion of its popular 20-year exhibition partnership with London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in a joint statement.

The partnership will come to an end in 2027 after a collaboration that began officially in 2004. The V&A says it's now building a curatorial team to oversee the revamping of its extensive architecture collection and exhibition offerings. Meanwhile, RIBA's own 4 million-piece collection will be rehoused as part of the House of Architecture initiative included in the revitalization of 66 Portland Place authored by Benedetti Architects.

RIBA presided Simon Allford shared that the organization will now focus on developing "new ways to bring together and present the institute's own outstanding but currently dispersed collection to the public and to the architectural profession." RIBA has paid the V&A some £1.65 million ($2.06 million) in rental fees as of March 2021 as part of an agreement to house their collection in the museum, which will retain the space vacated by that trove as a dedicated gallery for its own holdings.

Reacting to the news in the Architects' Journal, former RIBA treasurer John Assael shared that he was "very disappointed" by the organization's decision to do away with the program. Assael cites its considerable reputation and implores the RIBA Council to reconsider the ending of their partnership, which can go a long way in terms of audience engagement, something its organizational plan relies on.

"I've been a very loyal supporter of the RIBA drawings collection. It's the most important collection of architectural artifacts in the world," he added. "And I've put my money where my mouth is, spending in excess of £50,000 in annual grants to the RIBA to catalogue the amazing collection of Ernö Goldfinger. This is sad news to me because I believe the relationship between one of the biggest institutions of culture in the UK and the RIBA is a positive one. I hope RIBA Council can review this decision and reverse it."