Newcastle's Seven Stories launches UK campaign to raise £85k for new gallery

Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books has launched a campaign aiming to raise £85k by December 2018.

The money will be used to build a new permanent gallery and micro-archive for children’s literature.

The campaign has been supported by children’s literature author and poet Sir Michael Morpurgo, and it has been launched to improve access to Seven Stories’ children’s literature collection.

Michael Morpurgo’s work spans 40 years with a career that has seen the publication of over 150 books for children, traversing topics that explore historical events, natural history and the environment, adventure and family life.

He spoke of the campaign, saying: “I have known Seven Stories for a number of years and admired the way that it has worked quietly and diligently to fill an obvious gap in our culture by founding a national children’s literature archive and by using it to make amazing exhibitions.

“Children are sensitive and intelligent… They lack only two things - size, and a degree of life experience.

“Books encourage children to ask questions and the great thing about Seven Stories is that they provide a facility for children to access the difficulties and the joys of the world and encourage them to question what they see.”

Sally Pelham, chair of Seven Stories’ board of trustees, added: “When Seven Stories was first established back in 1996, many people thought that the idea of creating an archive of children’s literature, with no money, was complete and utter madness.

“One thing that I’ve learnt is that Seven Stories is a triumph of ambition over means. And here we are.

“We have a collection of national importance, including the works of over 270 authors and illustrators, who entrust their lives to us. When work comes to Seven Stories it’s not the end of the creative process, it’s the start of a new journey inspiring creativity in the next generation.

“The gallery and micro-archive are an important part of our vision… We believe that our work builds bridges between communities and between generations so that the lives of young children and their families are culturally and compassionately enriched, leading to greater wellbeing, citizenship, aspiration, attainment and a lifetime of stories.”