Since the V&A's inception, supporting contemporary artists, designers and makers has been at the heart of the museum's vision. The museum has three on-site studios: a dedicated ceramics studio in the Ceramics galleries and two interdisciplinary studios in the Sackler Centre for arts education. Alongside 9-month residencies linked to the Learning Department, they also work in collaboration with other departments and external institutions to deliver a range of additional shorter residencies. Through these unique experiences, creative practitioners gain access to the museum's vast collections, specialised curatorial expertise, as well as opportunities to share their work to diverse audiences. It is a place to experiment and disrupt, whilst also inspiring and educating the next generation about the exciting potential of careers in the creative industries. Overall, they facilitate space for curiosity and ingenuity, continuing to push the boundaries of world-leading practice in the museum and beyond.

Since 2016, they have also offered collaborative research residences through the V&A Research Institute (VARI), generously supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Working with Learning, VARI supports two research residencies per year for artists, designers and makers. The 12-month 'embedded residency' invites creative practitioners to critically examine ways of rethinking the V&A from the inside and transforming it into an active site of participation and discussion. The 3-month 'offsite residency' supports practitioners with a socially engaged practice to work with creative partner organisations in East London. This builds relationships with the diverse practitioner communities, in anticipation of the opening of V&A East.