David Bowie (1947–2016) is widely celebrated as a musical pioneer and cultural icon whose career spanned five decades and left a profound mark on contemporary art, fashion, and performance. In September 2025, The David Bowie Centre — a new, permanent home for Bowie’s extraordinary archive — officially opened at the V&A East Storehouse in London.

From September 13, visitors can explore the many personas of Bowie, from Major Tom, Ziggy Stardust, and Aladdin Sane to the Thin White Duke, all brought together under one roof.

The Centre offers a permanent, free-to-access public archive featuring more than 90,000 items from Bowie’s personal collection, alongside a bookable creative workspace for research, inspiration, and discovery.

Among the standout features of the archive: 414 costumes and accessories, including iconic stage outfits from the Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane eras, designed by Freddie Burretti and Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto, nearly 150 musical instruments and audio equipment, including the guitar used in the „Space Oddity“ video, stage props, concert set designs, and materials from film and theatre projects, personal items like the double-ended key to the Berlin apartment he shared with Iggy Pop, Bowie’s own writing desk, thousands of handwritten notes, lyrics, diaries, letters, fan mail, and over 70,000 photographs.

Ground Control to Major Tom

Ground Control to Major Tom

Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Tom (ten, nine, eight, seven, six)

Commencing countdown, engines on (five, four, three, two)

Check ignition and may God’s love be with you (one, lift off)…

The space also features reading and research rooms, rotating curated exhibitions, and themed displays that explore Bowie’s immense influence on contemporary art and culture. Highlights include a video installation showcasing performances from across his career, and a glimpse into unrealised artistic projects.

What sets The David Bowie Centre apart is its concept as a working, living archive. Through the „Order an Object“ service, visitors can request private viewings of over 2,500 specially selected items, offering an up-close experience unlike any other.

More than a musician, David Bowie was a true cultural innovator whose work transcended genres and decades. The Centre reflects this legacy, offering insight into his creative process, collaborations, and evolution as an artist.

The David Bowie Centre isn’t just a museum — it’s an immersive, hands-on journey through the mind of a visionary. For fans, artists, and researchers alike, it’s an essential destination.