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Fellows & Forum

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8 October 2009

Inspired by her experience as the Thomas Coram Foundling Fellow Dame Jacqueline Wilson has written a new book about the Foundling Hospital called Hetty Feather which has been receiving rave reviews.

Visit the Hetty Feather pages to learn more.

First Foundling Fellows announced, 2007

At a ceremony at the Museum on Tuesday 27 November, the names of the first Foundling Fellows were announced. They are:

The Handel Fellow: Damon Albarn

The Hogarth Fellow: Richard Wentworth

The Coram Fellow: Jacqueline Wilson

The Foundling Fellowship was established this year with the support of the Clore Duffield Foundation. The Fellows are named after Thomas Coram, William Hogarth and George Frideric Handel, the founders and benefactors of the original Foundling Hospital, which the Foundling Museum commemorates. During 2008 the three Foundling Fellows will work with the Museum to develop original, creative initiatives for children.

Damon Albarn is an outstanding musician, known for his work with Gorillaz and Blur, and most recently as composer of the opera Monkey: Journey to the West. He said: "Music is integral to the magic of childhood. I look forward to working in the ghostly atmosphere of the Foundling museum."

Richard Wentworth is a major British sculptor. Since 2002 he has been Master of the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art at Oxford University. He has had a long association with the education of young artists including such projects as Room 13, The Big Draw, The Art Room in Oxford and the Clore Duffield Foundation’s schools initiative, Artworks. He said: “The writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, inventors, artists, and entrepreneurs who owe something to the strange vitality of art schools will be thrilled by the Foundling Museum’s idea for fellowships - Hogarth, Handel and Coram would obviously approve.”

Jacqueline Wilson is one of Britain’s most successful children’s authors. Her books provide a voice for children tackling difficult issues such as divorce (The Suitcase Kid), homelessness (The Bed and Breakfast Star) and abuse (Secrets). She said:  “I am very pleased and proud to be one of the first Foundling Fellows. I shall try hard to follow in the footsteps of Thomas Coram and help today’s vulnerable children.”

We thank Wright & Teague for creating the Foundling Fellows pin, awarded to each Fellow.

The Foundling Museum also thanks the Clore Duffield Foundation for supporting the Foundling Fellows.

We are particularly grateful to Dame Vivien Duffield for graciously agreeing to become Patron of the Fellowship.