Open House Festival 2026

Join us on Sunday 13 September or Saturday 19 September to learn about the transformation of New River Head with Tim Ronalds Architects, part of Open House Festival 2026.

Quentin founded our charity in 2002, with the aim of creating the the UK’s first public place dedicated to illustration.

While searching for a permanent home for our work, we found New River Head, a derelict waterworks in Clerkenwell. We purchased it with a donation in 2019 and began work fundraising to restore it.

In 2020, we appointed award-winning practice Tim Ronalds Architects to plan for the site’s new life as the national centre for illustration. Their scheme preserves the industrial character of the buildings and enhances the site’s biodiversity while creating accessible exhibition galleries, a learning studio, a project space, a café-event space and a shop, surrounded by gardens.

Join free tours and talks happening at the Centre during Open House Festival 2026.