Penny Lecture: Preserving a Cultural Icon: The David Bowie Centre at V&A

Join us for a fascinating Penny Lecture taking us behind the scenes at one of the most exciting projects at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) - The David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse: the inside story of conserving, curating and archiving David Bowie’s own collection - uncovering a music and cultural icon.

Talk by: Talk byV&A Textile Conservators Elizabeth Gillions and Kirstin Ingram.

From dazzling iconic stage costumes to handwritten lyrics to the instruments owned and played by Bowie on stage, each piece in the David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse has a story, and a team ensuring its preservation for generations to come.

“We are looking forward to sharing the highlights of David Bowie’s archive with you - and uncovering how we at the V&A are preserving his collection and cultural legacy for future generations.”

What to Expect

• Learn about Bowie’s influence on fashion and discover how curators, conservators, and archivists have come together to preserve and present this extraordinary legacy of one of the world’s most influential artists.

• Why Bowie matters
  Explore Bowie’s significance as a musician, artist, and collector — and why his personal archive found its home at V&A East Storehouse.

• An inside look at the V&A’s vision
  Learn how the V&A’s commitment to design, music, and cultural history led to the development of the new Storehouse and the David Bowie Centre.

• Behind the collection
  Delve into the astonishing variety of artifacts — from fashion and furniture to original artworks, notes, and lyrics — and meet the teams who care for them.

• The art of preservation

Hear firsthand from conservators about the assessment, analysis, and preservation techniques used to safeguard Bowie’s archive and prepare it for public display.

• A glimpse into the future
  Discover how the collection is being rehoused, made accessible, and prepared for public engagement, including the intricate process of rehousing objects and creating bespoke storage solutions.

Find more info on the David Bowie Centre here: David Bowie Centre - Display at V&A East Storehouse · V&A