Daydreams and Diaries, the Story of Jacqueline Wilson Exhibition Announced
11 Jul 2011
“I'm so pleased and proud that Seven Stories are having a special exhibition all about me. It's been extraordinary delving into basements and garages and finding long forgotten childhood stories and old manuscripts and mementos. I've been writing all my life but it was only when I met my dear friend Nick that my career really took off. I'm so lucky to have Nick illustrate my books. The exhibition starts with a replica of my childhood bedroom where I read and wrote and daydreamed - and ends with a mock-up of my room now, where I still read and write and daydream.” Jacqueline Wilson
Seven Stories is delighted to be working with multi award-winning author and former Children’s Laureate Dame Jacqueline Wilson, on an exciting new exhibition, Daydreams and Diaries, the Story of Jacqueline Wilson, opening to the public on Saturday 15 October 2011.
Jacqueline has written over 100 books and is dearly loved by millions of fans all over the world. Over 30 million copies of Jacqueline Wilson’s books have now been sold in the UK alone and they have been translated into 34 different languages. Sapphire Battersea, her brand new book featuring the Victorian Hetty Feather, will be published by Doubleday on 29th September.
Seven Stories is preparing to turn its gallery over to all things ‘Jacqueline Wilson’. For the first time ever many of Jacqueline’s personal belongings will be on display - her notebooks and typescripts, along with her childhood toys, school reports and diaries. Explore a recreation of Jacqueline’s childhood bedroom or make notes for your first novel on a chaise longue just like hers. Let Jacqueline give you tips to put sparks into your creative writing! Find out why Jacqueline loves writing books and what it’s like to work with the wonderful illustrator Nick Sharratt.
Nick Sharratt, illustrator comments: “When I was asked to draw the pictures for The Story of Tracy Beaker in 1990 I had no idea that illustrating Jacqueline's books would form such a large part of my career, that we'd still be working together all this time later and that it would be the start of a wonderful friendship too! It's fantastic to be associated with Jacqueline and it's equally fantastic to be involved in this brilliant exhibition which will explore in depth her work and life.”
Explore ‘never before seen’ material for Jacqueline’s favourite books: The Story of Tracy Beaker, The Illustrated Mum, Best Friends, The Suitcase Kid, My Sister Jody, Cliffhanger and Hetty Feather. Find out her inspiration for writing them and hear how they have changed the lives of their readers.
Senior Curator Gill Rennie says: “Jacqueline is a wonderful person - she wants to speak directly to visitors in the exhibition through audio recordings, film and her own specially written words. We are thrilled to be working so closely with her, to give our visitors a really special Jacqueline Wilson experience. Her books have created a phenomenon and this exhibition will go some way to exploring just why they are so popular and why Jacqueline’s legacy is so vitally important to the world of British children’s literature.”
Kate Edwards, Chief Executive of Seven Stories adds: “Jacqueline has supported us for many years – officially opening Seven Stories in 2005, and thrilling our young visitors last year when she joined us to celebrate our 5th birthday. This exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for us to pay tribute to her and her outstanding contribution to British children’s literature. Her books have shaped a generation and she has been a genuine friend to thousands of young people on their journey from childhood to adulthood. It’s an honour to celebrate her work through this exhibition.”
Daydreams and Diaries: the Story of Jacqueline Wilson will open at Seven Stories on 15 October 2011. The exhibition will run for a year before touring to other venues.
Supported by Random House Children’s Books.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
To visit the exhibition and to request interviews and images please contact:
Cait Read E: Cait.read@sevenstories.org.uk T: 0845 271 0777 ext 709
Or Lauren Regan E: lauren.regan@sevenstories.org.uk T: 0845 271 0777 ext 703
National Press enquiries to
Nicky Potter E: nicpot@dircon.co.uk T: 020 8 889 9735 M: 0771 5587948
Seven Stories, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle.
www.sevenstories.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Dame Jacqueline Wilson is a former Children’s Laureate and a multi award-winning, best selling author who has recently been revealed as the most borrowed author of the past decade. Over 30 million copies of her books have been sold in the UK alone and her books have been translated into 34 different languages. Jacqueline Wilson is Pro Vice Chancellor at Roehampton University where she is also a visiting Professor of Children’s Literature and holds Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Bath, Dundee and Winchester.
www.jacquelinewilson.co.uk <http://www.jacquelinewilson.co.uk>
www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk <http://www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk>
Seven Stories, the national centre for children’s books (founded 1996)
Seven Stories is Britain’s home for children’s literature. It champions the art of children’s books to ensure its place as an integral part of childhood and of our national cultural life.
Until Seven Stories was founded in 1996 there was no place in the UK that championed the art form or its young audience – it is the only gallery dedicated to children’s literature in the UK and one of just a few in the world. Its founders were pioneering in their approach to addressing this cultural void and ambitious in their decision to locate it in the Northeast; a region with lower levels of childhood aspiration and committed to the societal benefits of cultural investment. Seven Stories is housed in a specially converted Victorian Warehouse in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Arts Council England and Newcastle City Council regularly fund Seven Stories’ work, giving children’s literature status and a national home and establishing new ways of engaging young audiences.
Since opening Seven Stories has:
• Attracted 380,000 visitors and 549,000 to its touring exhibitions.
• Worked with 64,000 school children, 10,800 children and adults through outreach projects and 1,300 professionals through professional development courses.
• Shown 19 major exhibitions.
• Developed one of the largest modern children’s literature Collections in Britain, including nationally and internationally significant holdings representing work of over 80 authors and illustrators, including David Almond, Philip Pullman, Michael Rosen, Edward Ardizzone, Judith Kerr and Shirley Hughes.
• Won many accolades, including the prestigious Eleanor Farjeon Award in 2010 for its outstanding contribution to children’s literature.
