Unboxing the David Bowie Archive

Join us as we explore in detail the David Bowie Archive Cataloguing Project, a project to plan, process and catalogue the David Bowie Archive.

Through lectures, tours, Q&As and object sessions with archivists and curators, the day will include in-depth insight into the archive, including the complexities of processing this landmark acquisition and highlights and discoveries made along the way.

Archivist Sabrina Offord and Curator Harriet Reed, who led the cataloguing project, will introduce the day and give an overview of the archive itself, providing fascinating glimpses into different areas of the collection, from Bowie’s unrealised projects to alternate costumes for Ziggy Stardust. David Bowie Research Fellow, Dr Claire Watt, will share her recent discoveries from the archive, including a deep dive into Bowie’s performance and writing practices.

Attendees will view items up-close in the Study Centre including archival material and objects, giving unique insight into how Bowie himself organised and used his archive. They will also receive a tour of the David Bowie Centre, including a display of highlights from the archive.

For more details on how our courses work, see V&A Academy online questions · V&A.

Suitable for participants aged 18 or over.