On Saturday 13th September 2025, the V&A East Storehouse in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opened the doors to the world-first David Bowie Centre, designed by IDK, offering a permanent home for David Bowie’s archive. This is the first time the public has had full access to the archive, which contains over 90,000 items spanning Bowie’s …
V&A Opens David Bowie Centre
On Saturday 13th September 2025, the V&A East Storehouse in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opened the doors to the world-first David Bowie Centre, designed by IDK, offering a permanent home for David Bowie’s archive. This is the first time the public has had full access to the archive, which contains over 90,000 items spanning Bowie’s entire career. The Centre, as a working archive, will also offer reading areas and a study room, where visitors can engage with the collection in new ways.
Tickets to visit the Centre are free, but entry is ticketed, with new tickets released every six weeks. Already, the Order an Object service, allowing visitors to book one-on-one time with their chosen items from the archive, has seen over 500 requests within the first week of opening. The most requested object so far is a frockcoat designed by Alexander McQueen and David Bowie for his 50th Birthday Concert in 1997.
An Immersive Exploration of Bowie’s Legacy
The David Bowie Centre features nine rotating mini-displays showcasing approximately 200 highlights from Bowie’s vast collection. These displays explore themes such as Bowie’s creative process, his personas, collaborators, and his influences, including figures like Little Richard and the worlds of Jungle and Drum & Bass. A central space allows visitors to further explore the archive, with topic boxes housing curated selections of archival material, and a display of 20 of Bowie’s most iconic fashion and costumes.
Visitors will also experience a new film showcasing highlights from Bowie’s performances and music videos and an interactive installation called ‘The Library of Connections’, illustrating how Bowie’s influence permeated popular culture, from TV shows like Friends to fashion designers like Issey Miyake and musicians such as Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, Janelle Monae, and Kendrick Lamar.
Revelations and Rare Objects
The working archive invites visitors to explore rare and unseen aspects of Bowie’s creative journey. Notable items include:
- Bowie’s first saxophone – a gift from his father in the early 1960s.
- Iconic and unfinished costumes and stage sets.
- Jim Henson-designed life-size puppets of Bowie’s personas, created for an unreleased music video.
- Handwritten lyrics, storyboards, and sketches revealing the ideas behind Bowie’s era-defining works.
- Ziggy Stardust costumes, never before seen in the UK, and props from The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976).
Visitors can also book access to items related to Bowie’s final albums: The Next Day (2013) and Blackstar (2016). This includes hand-decorated costumes, sketches, and artwork from the ‘Lazarus’ music video.
Bowie’s Creative Process and Unseen Projects
The exhibition delves into Bowie’s visionary works, such as his musical set ‘The Spectator’, which was found among his personal papers after his passing. Set in 18th-century London, this musical explored themes like the Enlightenment, art, and modernity, with detailed notes on characters, historical events, and possible scenes.
Bowie’s intellectual curiosity and continual drive to push creative boundaries are evident throughout his work, as displayed in the Centre. As Dr Madeleine Haddon, Curator of V&A East, explains, “Bowie was fascinated by the intersection of the 18th century and modernity, and his projects reflect his desire to experiment with creative forms and ideas throughout his life.”
Generosity and Support for the Bowie Centre
The David Bowie Centre is made possible thanks to the David Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and Warner Music Group. These generous supporters have enabled the V&A to care for Bowie’s extraordinary archive and to open it to the public for the first time.
Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, expressed his excitement about the Centre:
“David Bowie’s impact continues to resonate, and we’re thrilled to offer unprecedented access to his archive. The Centre is a unique opportunity to explore his legacy, creativity, and influence, alongside the V&A’s broader collection.”
A Must-Visit for Fans and Scholars
The David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse is an exciting new cultural hub, offering an in-depth look at one of music’s most iconic figures. Visitors will experience not just Bowie’s art, but a profound insight into his creative process, and how he shaped the cultural landscape across decades.
- Location: V&A East Storehouse, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
- Admission: Free, but ticketed
- More Info: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/david-bowie-centre
The David Bowie Centre is a monumental step in celebrating Bowie’s artistic legacy, offering fans and researchers the opportunity to engage with the archive like never before. Whether you’re a longtime admirer or a new visitor to Bowie’s world, this exhibition promises to inspire and deepen your understanding of one of the greatest artists of all time.
