Date Announced: 29 Jun 2012 Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced that the company has extended its patronage of the Toshiba Gallery of Japanese Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) for a further 10 years, through to 2021. The renewed partnership means the Gallery will continue to illustrate the history of Japanese art and craftsmanship in order to educate and encourage both visitors to the museum and contemporary designers.The Toshiba Gallery at the V&A was opened in 1986 and since then has provided a showcase for the V&A’s internationally important collection of Japanese art and design. It contains a wide range of treasures from across the ages of Japanese history, ranging from the 6th century up to the present day and includes displays of Japanese swords and armour, netsuke, wood-block prints, textiles, lacquer and ceramics. The extension of the partnership also provides the opportunity for Toshiba to demonstrate the very latest in Japanese technological design. Toshiba has installed its new state-of-the-art LED lighting in the Gallery. The new lighting system illuminates the beautiful architecture of the Japanese Gallery's vaulted ceiling using Toshiba's E-CORE Floodlight 6000 and also inside the exhibit space where track mounted LED lamps have been used to replace short-life, less efficient halogen lamps. The new lighting will significantly reduce energy and maintenance costs associated with lighting, and help the V&A to meet its carbon reduction targets.Toshiba’s partnership with the V&A recognises the Museum’s origins in 1852 as the Museum of Manufactures, and its founding principle to make works of art available to all and to inspire British designers and manufacturers.Noriaki Hashimoto, Corporate Representative – Europe, Middle East and Africa of Toshiba Corporation said, “The V&A’s founding principle resonates with everyone at Toshiba. To deliver innovative products, every designer and manufacturer needs inspiration. By renewing our partnership with the V&A, we hope that the Toshiba Gallery will fascinate and inspire another generation of visitors. We're also keen to support the V&A to maximise energy saving potential during the ongoing transformation of the museum building and galleries."Martin Roth, Director of the V&A said, "The V&A is thrilled to celebrate Toshiba's renewed commitment to the Japanese Gallery a further 10 years. The Museum's partnership with Toshiba has been one of our most important and long established. This further support will ensure the Toshiba Gallery of Japanese Art continues to showcase vibrant new displays and the V&A's outstanding collections. We are already benefiting from the improvements brought about by the new Toshiba lighting in the Gallery."About ToshibaToshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances.Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 550 consolidated companies, with 202,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.1 trillion yen (US$74 billion). Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm
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