Happy 20th Anniversary to The Cartoon Museum!

Written By Phoenix Gray

As The Cartoon Museum in London celebrates it’s 20th Anniversary this year, I thought I’d look back over my time volunteering and working at this amazing place.

I started volunteering at The Cartoon Museum just over two years ago, back on the 23rd February 2024. As is often the case, it doesn’t feel that long ago since I first started.

Someone once asked me why I volunteer at The Cartoon Museum specifically;

“Why travel all this way when you have art galleries closer to home?”

I’m Eastbourne-based, so it is a very good question. I realised that journeying to and from the museum does take approximately 5.5 hours. That’s a chunk of my day spent simply travelling. So it is a little bit mad when you think about it!

Understandably most people would just volunteer closer to home. After all, volunteers offer up their time and labour for free, so why go to all that trouble?

For me, the journey length isn’t an issue. There is nowhere in the UK quite like The Cartoon Museum, so I’m going to use this person’s great question as a springboard to explain to you, my lovely readers, why I am so involved in this place…

The main entrance leading down to the The Cartoon Museum, showcasing the comics and cartoons in their collection.

“What is The Cartoon Museum?”

Writer and good friend Rachel Marsh enjoying the original Wallace and Gromit comic strip, Crackers in Space, published in 1999, by Tristan Davies and Nick Newman.

For those of you who do not know, The Cartoon Museum is a small independent charity and museum dedicated to the collection and preservation of British comics, cartoons, caricatures and animation. There are three rooms for visitors to explore, or four if you count the wonderful gift shop!

The main exhibition space focuses on the history of British comics and cartoons, from the 18th century right up to the present day. Within this space, there is an “In Focus” display which temporarily showcases an artist’s body of work under a particular theme.

The temporary exhibition space is dedicated to, well, their temporary exhibitions programme! Since I’ve volunteered there, visitors have enjoyed:

Wallace and Gromit: Celebrating 30 Years Since The Wrong Trousers! [September 2023 to April 2024]

Heroes: The British Invasion of American Comics [April 2024 - October 2024]

Steve Bell’s The Windsor Tapestry [November 2024 - March 2025]

Cats in Cartoons [April 2025 - September 2025]

The Future Was Then [October 2025 - May 2026]

As you can see from the automatic scrolling images, there has been a range of themed exhibitions, from superheroes to political satire.

There is also the fantastic Clore Learning Studio, which has a range of comic strips and cartoons on display, but it’s main function is for hosting events and workshops.

What is on display at any given time is just a fraction of what The Cartoon Museum has in it’s collection. Currently, the museum has over 6000 original cartoons and comics, and a library of over 8000 comics and books!

A small but dedicated team of staff are always busy, doing everything feasible to promote, conserve and provide access to their collection, as well as proactively support new work by cartoonists and comics artists.

“What do you do as a volunteer?”

Superman is always ready to greet visitors to the museum. Just in case you didn’t know, that’s me on the right! Photo credit: Pamela Lokhun.

My main role is working front of house. This involves greeting visitors, processing admissions and providing customer service in their wonderful gift shop. There are many other tasks within this role, but ultimately I am there to provide a friendly and warm welcome to everyone.

It is worth mentioning that I have volunteered at various places before, and the key thing that keeps me coming back is that everyone’s genuinely supportive. The trustees and staff see volunteers as a vital part of the team, not just an extension on one. When they advertise that you will gain “hands-on experience”, they are true to their word!

Cats In Cartoons: Exhibition Install. The museum is dependent on volunteers supporting collection management and exhibition turnover. From left to right: Farrah Tansri, Vanessa Gray (that’s me!), Chris Roelants and Dick Cole. Photo taken by Dan Greenfield.

When I first started volunteering at The Cartoon Museum, Joe Sullivan, the former Director, was keen to see what I wanted to get out of this role. Joe took the time to get to know me, chatting whilst we had a coffee together. I said that I had delivered art workshops at a local convention, and also at The De La Warr Pavilion, and before I knew it, Steve Marchant, the museum’s Learning Officer & Comic Art Curator, casually asked if I wanted to run a workshop myself at the museum. I was honoured and said yes!

After shadowing a couple of his workshops, I was trusted to deliver three Create a Comic Strip sessions for Salvatorian College.

I’m giving you the short version of events, but any teaching role involves a LOT of preparation and practise. For myself, and the reputation of the museum, I wanted to do a good job so I practised a lot at home. Naturally the first time nerves kicked in, but all went well considering it was my first time running this style of workshop to three large school groups. The Head of School, Alan Bryant, had quietly sat in during the first workshop. I was very happy to find out that he was pleased with the way I ran it.

Fast forward two years, and I’ve had the opportunity to deliver several different art workshops, onsite and offsite, and my confidence has grown.

I don’t know of many other places that offer this level of support or training to their volunteers. Both Steve and Amba Malekin-Goneni, (The Cartoon Museum’s former Access & Outreach Officer), continue to be supportive of myself and everyone they work with.

My first fully booked holiday workshop at The Cartoon Museum, titled Mythical Manga. Photo taken by Holly Burrows.

Backed by their values to support current cartoonists and comic artists, The Cartoon Museum also stock my colouring art book and postcards, which you can buy in the gift shop or order online!

Holly Burrows, the museum’s Commercial Manager, is a strong supporter of self-published cartoonists, illustrators and the comic community as a whole. There is a dedicated section in the shop for small press comics, DIY zines and self printed merchandise. If there is physical space and it’s feasible, Holly will do her best to stock products by emerging cartoonists.

I think it is important to note that during my time in education, cartoons and comics were generally considered a form of “low art”. Attitudes have changed since the 2000’s, but it can still be a struggle to find the right environments and people who will encourage your passions and cheer you on.

The Cartoon Museum offers this. It is a welcoming place and so for me it is worth travelling to. As well as gaining new skills and experience, there is a social element too. I get the opportunity to chat to fellow volunteers who also share similar interests and values. I also meet many wonderful visitors who have travelled especially to see the exhibitions, or take part in a workshop or scheduled event. It has been recently proven that visiting galleries and museums is good for your mental health.

The Cartoon Museum is also a place that positively encourages people to pick up a pencil and draw!

These are just some of the many cool drawings that children and adults create during their visit to the museum. Some people draw original ideas, whilst others express their love for existing characters . Whether it’s taking part in The Cartoon Museum’s Exhibition Trails, or completing an activity sheet, everyone is welcome to respond to the collection or draw what they love.

Small Press Day 2024

A very special moment after being live on BBC Radio London with Carrie and David Grant.

Who knew that volunteering at the museum would lead to being on BBC Radio London to chat with Carrie and David Grant about Small Press Day, The Cartoon Museum and even my work!

You can listen to a recording of the interview by clicking the play “▶️” button below.

Carrie and David Grant with Vanessa Gray BBC Radio London - Small Press Day at The Cartoon Museum, 17th August 2024

Again, this highlights the type of exciting opportunities that are potentially available through volunteering at The Cartoon Museum.

Volunteering has led to many fun and memorable moments. Top left, myself, Alex Hahn, Ed Firth, Lucia (aka KitsuneArt), Shane Melisse and others at Small Press Day 2024. Top right, selling my postcards and colouring art book on Small Press Day. Bottom right, Pamela Lokhun, Dick Cole and myself at last year’s Christmas party! Bottom left, Farrah Tansri supporting me by purchasing my printed products.

Here at The Cartoon Museum, I can be a customer assistant, a tour guide, a workshop facilitator, or a hands-on exhibition installer. Not many places offer volunteers such a range of opportunities for growth and skill development.

It took us a while to get this cool, cat shaped vinyl sticker in place. This sticker introduced visitors to the popular Cats in Cartoons Exhibition.

Steve Marchant, doing a super cool awesome pose for an audience, and talking about The Young Cartoonist in Residence Programme.

Selfie time with Farrah Tansri! This was taken after a Relaxed Mondays session at The Cartoon Museum. Such sessions were especially designed for those with autism spectrum conditions or sensory processing differences.

The museum is dependent on volunteers fulfilling many different roles. Some people work behind the scenes; processing gift aid, managing membership renewals and working directly with the museum’s vast collection, whilst others may enjoy partaking in more socially demanding events, such as working the bar at private views or lively shin-digs!

I could detail so many other interesting and fun moments, but I hope this highlights why I travel all that way to central London each week for my regular shift, or help out with something a little more action-packed! It’s the staff, volunteers, visitors and workshop participants that keep me coming back. In a world that might seem more disconnected than ever, to have a place to connect with many different people is mighty special, and what better time to publish this blog post than during Volunteer’s Week!

If you volunteer your time, skills and energy to a cause or organisation… I just think you’re amazing. If you click on the link above, you’ll be able to read how valuable you are. I hope you take the time to appreciate what you do for others and celebrate!

Beth Bryan, The Cartoon Museum’s Director, addressing guests at the museum’s 20 for 20! Fit for The Future campaign.

As well as celebrating my volunteering, this blog post is also about 20 amazing years of The Cartoon Museum. I may have been with the museum just over 2 years now, but many of the trustees and volunteers have been dedicating themselves to this amazing place since the very beginning.

Therefore, please take a moment to check out the museum’s very important Crowdfunder campaign. From the date of publishing this blog post, this campaign is running for two more days, so if you can support us, any donation big or small, that would be very much appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post. I write these blogs in my own time and they are currently free to view.

If you enjoy my work and would like to support me, please consider visiting my Ko-fi page.

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Thank you so much!

Phoenix Gray https://phoenix-gray.com
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Koshu Dream House: Chapter 4