Sir Quentin Blake [Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration]

THE Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration has confirmed its debut exhibition listings ahead of its opening date in May.

The £12.5million much-anticipated project will see the “world’s largest dedicated illustration space” open in a restored waterworks site in Clerkenwell.

It will host exhibitions and performances across three gallery spaces, exploring illustration in its various forms.

Included in the debut exhibitions is a UK-first “Queer As Comics” show, which will celebrate 80 years of LGBTQIA+ comics, including previously unseen work from 60 global artists.

Another, “Quentin Blake: Performance”, will explore how theatre influenced the artist’s work over his 80-year career as one of Britain’s most celebrated illustrators. The centre will also feature some of Sir Quentin Blake’s never-seen-before art.

Sir Quentin said: “Illustrating is like directing a play, except that you also get to design the scenery and play all the parts. I can’t wait for the curtain to go up on the new exhibition.”

Last week the Tribune reported that over 100 local people had signed a petition objecting to the museum’s proposed “late-night events”, which could go on until 10.30pm 24 times a year.

Neighbours warned that hosting the events would bring noise and disorder to a residential area.
Memberships to the forthcoming site are now available online from qbcentre.org.uk