Quentin Blake has brought to life countless stories by acclaimed authors, including Roald Dahl and Dr Seuss, and is the founder of the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration. 

As part of his 90th birthday celebrations, it has been announced that the Centre will receive £171,000 development* funding towards a £2,429,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will develop its new home in Clerkenwell, London, and will move into the Engine House – a former water works building that has been disused since the 1950s.

The project will: 

• display Quentin Blake’s extensive archive, which includes 40,000 items such as his earliest work from when he was at school 
• create galleries and an exhibition space – showing advertisements, animation, manga, comic books and propaganda 
• sustainably redevelop the Engine House and adjacent buildings 
• create a community garden and public green space 
• provide education and learning spaces 
• establish an apprenticeship and volunteering programme 
• offer accessible facilities, including a Changing Places toilet 

The project will establish a new, permanent home for illustrators’ work from across the UK. The redevelopment of the site will benefit the local community and nature by providing some much-needed green space in this part of London. 

*Projects that apply for grants of more than £250,000 must first develop a detailed project proposal through a development application before they apply for a full grant.