Neill Cameron provides a comic touch to The Story Museum’s transformation

There is always a tale to tell at The Story Museum, even when the builders are on site! That’s why the museum has enlisted the help of comic artist Neill Cameron to create a giant comic strip across its building hoardings, which gives visitors a sneak preview of what the new museum will look like when it reopens its doors in 2020.

The comic strip, which measures over 10 metres in length, describes the transformed museum as “bigger and stranger and more brilliant than ever, with amazing surprises behind every door”. It tells the story of young a visitor who, whilst exploring the museum, has to fend off a fearsome crew of pirates with help of a fire-breathing dragon!

To make its transformation a reality, the museum has embarked on the ‘1001 Stories Quest’, their public appeal to raise £300,000 towards the final stages of the £6million building project, which broke ground in November 2018. Members of the public can join the Quest at three levels: by becoming a Founding Fellow (donating £1001), a Story Collector (£100.10), or a Story Seeker (£10.01). Once fully transformed, the museum will include 10 amazing new spaces to explore and enjoy including a Whispering Wood, a Treasure Chamber, an Enchanted Library…all of which are featured in Neill Cameron’s comic strip.

Neill Cameron said:

“I’m really honoured to be part of the Story Museum’s next chapter, and to get to try and tell that story in such a fun way. We want people to feel involved in what’s happening, and excited about the changes, so it was really fun to try and communicate that in a way that visitors of all ages will be able to understand and get on board with. Namely, a ludicrously giant comic, drawn across the front of a building site, about pirates and dragons and treasure and ADVENTURE.”

Hedley Swain, Area Director, South East, Arts Council England, said:

“Neill Cameron’s giant comic strip is a wonderfully creative way for The Story Museum to give passers-by a glimpse of what’s to come when it re-opens. It is a brilliant example of how creativity can transform the mundane into something special that everyone can enjoy.”

The creation of the comic strip is part of Neill Cameron’s contribution as artist in residence at The Story Museum, which will also see him curate a series of comic events for all ages, running throughout 2019. These events are supported with Heritage Lottery funding as part of the museum’s plans to reach new audiences during its redevelopment. The £6 million redevelopment project which will create a total of 10 new gallery and activity spaces at The Story Museum is now underway thanks to generoussupport of National Lottery funding from both Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as funding from a range of other Trusts, Foundations and individuals.

Anyone interested can find out more by visiting The Story Museum’s website at http://www.storymuseum.org.uk