The Victoria and Albert Museum touring exhibition, A Century of Olympic Posters is drawn mainly from the London museum’s internationally renowned collection and includes many rare and beautiful examples, most of which are shown together for the first time. It presents a unique perspective on the modern Olympic Games, exploring their inception and evolution through the powerful medium of the poster.

The exhibition is hosted at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust in partnership with the Wenlock Olympian Society www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk, which works to promote the endeavours and ideals of Dr William Penny Brookes who was born in Much Wenlock in 1809 and is regarded as the founding father of the modern Olympic Games. The exhibition includes items from the archives of the Wenlock Olympian Society and the local history of the Wenlock Olympian Class who held their first Annual Games in 1850 will be drawn out in an introductory approach to the Gallery.

Posters are an important means of communication for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, building excitement and shaping expectations of the Games to come. As snapshots through time, these works provide a fascinating record of our world – a visual document of sport and art, politics and place, commerce and culture. Their broad popular appeal and ability to relay messages through eye-catching and memorable imagery means that many of them are now prized souvenirs or collectable works of art and design.

At an exciting moment in Olympic history – when we look towards the 2012 Games in London – this exhibition celebrates the global connections that the Olympic Games have fostered throughout the last century.

A programme of public talks on various themes of the exhibition will be advertised; although entry is free donations will be welcome. For further information, contact the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on Tel: 01952 884 391 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk.  The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).