There has been a lot of talk about literacy initiatives in schools but still children’s books get little attention from adults. They are rarely reviewed in mainstream press, and bookshops tend to have only a small selection of the many available titles. But this should change if Seven Stories: the Centre for Children’s Books has its way. Based around a unique collection of literature and illustration for children the centre wants to engage visitors in conversation about storytelling and bookmaking. Judging by the current displays it should provide young readers and budding authors and illustrators with a wealth of inspiration.
Seven Stories’ founding directors, Elizabeth Hammill and Mary Briggs, started collecting the archive 1996. They aimed to collect not only the finished article but also works that show the process of writing and illustrating, including manuscripts, sketches and research materials. Seven Stories provides a series of spaces in which the people who read the books can explore not only the stories, but also those process of creating them. It includes exhibition spaces, workshop and drama spaces as well as a café and dedicated children’s bookshop.
The current exhibition is a great example of how the collection can be used to engage children with books and storytelling. Incredible Journeys explores four themes based around key elements of storytelling: place, words, time and character. Each section contains sketches, manuscripts and finished works, and although there are a selection of hands-on activities the literature and illustrations are the stars of the show.
There is something here for people of all ages. Each room has a graphic backdrop designed by a different children’s illustrator. Artworks from the archive are hung at child-friendly height, though not so low that adults have to stoop. It is a visual feast for young eyes that want to enjoy seeing characters from books they know. For those experimenting with language World of Words features witty poems that explore word play against a backdrop illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura.
For anyone who enjoys storytelling or perhaps wants to be a writer or illustrator the exhibition provides a wealth of inspiration that clearly expresses the raison d’etre of the archive. This comes not just from the variety of ideas on display, but because the exhibition shows how the work is produced.
Perhaps one of the clearest examples of this is found in World of Characters. It is a case containing J K Rowling’s draft for chapter six of the first Harry Potter book alongside a plan for chapter seven and a sketch to help her visualise her characters. There is not a page of the draft chapter that isn’t covered in crossing out and revisions. The chapter plan shows Rowling ordering her thoughts and working out a plan of action for the story. Here is one part of the writing process, more eloquently explained than in any ‘how to’ manual.
The Time Room shows another part. Pinned on the wall are photos of the garden at King’s Mill House which was the inspiration for Phillipa Pearce’s story Tom’s Midnight Garden. The adjacent case shows that inspiration is just the start. Pearce was meticulous in her research and the case contains books, diaries, records of conversations and letters she wrote to check facts. For any budding author here are some valuable tips. For those who are just keen readers, perhaps there will be a deeper understanding of how stories are created.
There is encouragement for young illustrators too. The artworks in the exhibition cover all stages of the design process, from Angela Barrett’s sketch book to Peter Boston’s illustrations that are marked up with directions for the printer. Many of the drawings are one offs, though; perhaps future exhibitions will show illustrations at all stages of development, from sketches to the finished article.
As with many museums, Seven Stories can only show a selection of its collection at any one time. The archive is in fact housed at Newcastle University as there are no onsite storage facilities at the centre. However, some of the collection has been digitised and this can be accessed from Seven Stories in Story Lab, a dedicated space where students and researchers will be able to have computer access to the digitised collection.
The other spaces in Seven Stories continue to explore the process of writing and drawing through workshops, talks and drama. The flexibility of the spaces allows for a wide range of activities suitable for all age groups and interests, and there is an interesting programme of forthcoming events. At the top of the building Artists’ Attic is set in the rafters, and the exposed beams combine with drapes to give a theatrical feel to the space. It is an area for storytelling, drama and talks. Engine Room is an education and workshop space set in a bright, naturally lit room at the bottom of the building, overlooking the river. There is plenty of room for a group to sit and listen to a story; alternatively there are lots of props to aid in story telling or to use as inspiration for drawings. Events include workshops by illustrators and ‘walk in‘ activities which link to ideas in the exhibitions. Current activities include Word Factory where visitors can make their favourite words out of brightly coloured pipe cleaners and stick them on a wall for all to see. It’s fun to do, and interesting to read everyone else’s words.
There is a real buzz at Seven Stories. The enthusiasm for books and illustration at is hard to miss, and it is great to find somewhere that manages to convey that enthusiasm so effortlessly to a wide range of age groups. It is equally hard to see how it can fail to engage new generations of readers, authors and illustrators.
Seven Stories, 30 Lime St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ
This article first appeared in Museums Journal in 2005
Rachel Souhami 