Seven Stories uses its unique collection in all sorts of ways. Since 1996 the museum has curated no fewer than 30 exhibitions, showing thousands of original artworks and manuscripts, drawn increasingly from the collection itself. Exhibitions have travelled to nearly 50 museums and galleries all over the UK, from Canterbury to Kilmarnock, reaching nearly 2 million people and making Seven Stories one of the most active touring museums in the country.


Archive discovery opportunities have inspired thousands of children and young people to write, draw, talk, read and perform.


The first online catalogues were launched in 2005 and the Seven Stories database now includes nearly 16,000 records and is accessible worldwide.


Seven Stories has hosted hundreds of researchers, both individuals and groups, exploring topics ranging from school stories to radical activism in picturebooks and from fairy tales in children’s theatre to the evolution of merchandising.


With partners at Newcastle University’s Children’s Literature Unit Seven Stories has also developed dozens of research collaborations; the latest joint project is to map research pathways through the recently acquired archives of literary agent Laura Cecil and the writer and editor/critic partnership Aidan and Nancy Chambers. Both of these collections contain valuable material that will be used to explore challenging new histories of children’s books. The period covered by these collections was one of radical change in attitudes towards writing for children and these collections will help us understand and interpret this for our audiences.


The team at Seven Stories work hard to look after the collection and keep it safe for future generations. Seven Stories conservator, Rosalind Bos, ensures that all our books and archives are housed in the correct conditions and carries out repairs when needed. She has recently been working on some fascinating artwork by Pearl Binder (1904-1990) which was donated by the artist’s family in 2016.


From 2014-18 Seven Stories was supported through the Heritage programme to


Lottery Fund’s Collecting acquire important new collections


Cultures of


artwork, poetry and young fiction. The funding enabled the museum to purchase work which would not otherwise have been available. It also supported the often substantial costs associated with taking in donations and helped to make newly acquired work available to the public.


The most recent exhibition to be launched at Seven Stories, ‘Where Your Wings Were’ celebrates the work of North East author and patron of Seven Stories, David Almond. David’s archive was one of the largest acquisitions made with Collecting Cultures funding, with additional support from the Friends of the National Libraries.


As part of the museum’s bold vision for the future, Seven Stories wants to continue building the collection, acquiring more exceptional work by authors and illustrators past and present, and enabling as many people as possible to be inspired by it.


Judith Kerr in Tiger, Mog and Pink Rabbit; a Judith Kerr Retrospective exhibition


David Almond in Where Your Wings Were….Journeys with David Almond exhibition showcasing the Seven Stories collection


How you can help


Every year over 175,000 people join in and enjoy the Seven Stories Collection in galleries, through our touring exhibition programme and online.


Our creative learning and engagement programme involves 30,000 children, young people and teachers each year. Donations help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn about and respond to the stories represented our collection.


Your donations allow the expert team at Seven Stories to care for and restore works in the national collection for the enjoyment of visitors now and in the future.


As a registered charity, Seven Stories relies on generous donations from individuals, companies, trusts and foundations to support our work. If you would like to help to save, celebrate and save Britain’s wonderful heritage of children’s literature, please get in touch.


Kate Edwards, Chief Executive kate.edwards@sevenstories.org.uk


Kristopher Mckie is Collection Manager at Seven Stories.


Sarah Lawrance, Collection & Exhibitions Director sarah.lawrance@sevenstories.org.uk


Amanda Beckham, Fundraising & Development Manager amanda.beckham@sevenstories.org.uk www.sevenstories.org.uk


Books for Keeps No.232 September 2018 5


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