The South Asia Collection
Free museum and research centre in a Victorian former skating rink in Norwich, showing about 10,000 objects from South and South East Asia.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The South Asia Collection is a museum and research centre in Norwich devoted to the art, craft and living traditions of South and South East Asia. It grew from the private collection of Philip and Jeannie Millward, who began collecting on a trip to Pakistan in 1979 and ran a retail business alongside. In 2010 they set up the South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection (SADACC) Trust, a registered charity, to preserve the collection and open it to the public. The museum was rebranded in 2018.
It occupies a Grade II listed building on Bethel Street that was built in 1876 as a roller-skating rink and later served as a variety theatre and a builders' merchant's store. The Millwards bought and restored it in 1993. Its large arched wooden roof is a notable feature.
The collection holds almost 10,000 objects and artworks, including textiles, furniture, everyday objects and crafts, narrative paintings from traditions such as Gond, Madhubani, Warli and Bhil, and 18th and 19th century European watercolours, prints, postcards and stereographs of South Asia. A shop is run alongside the museum.
Highlights
- About 10,000 objects from South and South East Asia
- Textiles, furniture and crafts
- Narrative paintings from several Indian traditions
- Historic watercolours, prints and postcards of South Asia
- Grade II listed former skating rink
Permanent exhibition
- The South Asia Collection – Textiles, furniture, crafts, narrative paintings and historic European views of South Asia from a collection of almost 10,000 objects.
- Operated by
- SADACC Trust (South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free; no booking is needed.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The entrance and ground floor, which houses the museum, are step-free; larger mobility vehicles may find some areas harder to reach. The first floor (part of the shop) is reached by stairs only. There is no hearing loop. A large print gallery guide is available. There are no public toilets on site; the nearest are in the Atrium of The Forum, a 3-minute walk, including a Changing Places toilet. There are no allocated Blue Badge spaces, but one can be requested in advance.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Castle Meadow bus stops · 10-min walk
Norwich railway station is a 20-minute walk and the bus station a 12-minute walk; the Castle Meadow bus stops are a 10-minute walk. Park and Ride services run from the edge of the city.
By car
Free parking
Small free car park on site for up to 5 cars. The nearest public car parks are The Forum (1 minute) and St Giles Street (5 minutes).
Norwich Airport is 3 miles away.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum shop on the first floor sells clothing and jewellery; staff will bring items downstairs on request.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | A large print gallery guide is available. |
|---|
