Adventures in Art: Museums and Children's Books

Discover how the people behind treasured children’s characters have responded to the beauty and strangeness of objects found in museums and galleries. Expert speakers include Dr Kiera Vaclavik of the University of London’s Centre for the Study of Childhood Culture, curator Elizabeth Jacklin, plus authors James Mayhew and David Lucas. Please note amended start time of 10.30am.

In the morning, join Dr Kiera Vaclavik for an introduction to this fascinating history, before Elizabeth Jacklin reveals the secrets behind Beatrix Potter’s use of clothing and textiles from the V&A in her beloved illustrations.

In the afternoon, listen as authors and illustrators share a personal perspective on how museums have inspired their work. Watch as James Mayhew shows you how he drew Katie into famous paintings and talks you through her three decades of adventures, and hear how David Lucas transformed the V&A Museum of Childhood into the setting for the much-loved tale Lost in the Toy Museum.