Ministry of Stories

Would you believe the items above have been created to support literacy? The back story: in 2008, David Eggers gave a TED talk regarding literacy and the 826 literacy program, which is here in the US and appears to be a great program in a slew of cities across the country. He posed the thought of beginning something similar in London. Many meetings and some great thoughts came and went; 2 years later The Ministry of Stories was born. Design firm we made this worked with the Arts Council and the JJ Charitable Trust to create a fun inviting space:

The Ministry follows the model of the 826 centres: a writing centre where kids aged 8-18 can get one-to-one tuition with professional writers and other volunteers; with the centres being housed behind fantastical shop fronts designed to fire the kids’ imaginations (and generate income for the writing centres).

A shop named Horton Street Monster Supplies is the income generator, and boy do I wish I could stop by and do my part. I would really like some canned Mortal Terror or a jar of Organ Marmalade. This is the greatest idea ever, and I sincerely hope it does well.