IWM Blog

  • Older man with cane stands in front of shop window with illustration of his likeness
    Cyril © Our Big Picture
    Blog: 14-18 NOW

    Friends, Foes and Good Companions: A Journey Through the Cod Wars

    The Cod Wars, a series of confrontations between Iceland and the UK overfishing rights in the North Atlantic, have been a topic of discussion for decades. However, the impact of this conflict on the fishing industry and the communities involved has often been overlooked. That's where the "Friends, Foes and Good Companions" exhibition comes in. This reportage artwork has been created by artist Olivier Kugler and writer Andrew Humphreys, commissioned by the Imperial War Museums – IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund in partnership with Our Big Picture and supported by Arts Council England. The exhibition ran from
  • (Left) Portrait of Mabel Wulff, nee Phillips; (Right) Mabel and her husband Max Wulff
    Courtesy of Eddie Wulff and family
    Blog: First World War

    Two countries, two wars: the story of Mabel Wulff, BEM

    Research has been undertaken into the story of Mabel Wulff, who born in Newport in Wales but lived for many years in Germany. In this blog post, Madeleine Resühr and Andrew Hemmings share details of Mabel's extraordinary life, which spanned the two world wars and beyond.
  • Title screen for Sunken Warships: Secrets from the Deep
    Blog: Film

    The Joy of the Archive Jigsaw

    Jason Davidson, producer/director and co-owner of the award winning production company Squeaky Pedal, shares his reflections on exploring the IWM film archive for a new TV series entitled Sunken Warships: Secrets from the Deep.
  • Five works of art hang under purple hued light, with woman standing in front.
    Arafa Gouda with her artwork من السكون الي الإلهام: (From Stillness to Inspiration) acrylic on calico fabric. Photo © Lee Karen Stow
    Blog: 14-18 NOW

    Reflections on Tomorrow

    In 2023, five women artists who survived war, conflict and persecution, came together as visual artists to present Tomorrow, a multi-media, studio exhibition. Developed as an IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund commission in partnership with the Freedom Festival, the exhibition is an individual and collective response to the concept of ‘tomorrow’ as an enduring reference to hope, belief and self-determination and a way of looking to the future, together.
  • Row of seven white headstones
    Photograph by Dr. Bruce A. Tocher
    Blog: Second World War

    Remembering Operation Freshman: Norway, 1942

    In July 1942, the British War Cabinet decided to try to destroy the heavy water production facilities at the Norsk Hydro factory at Vemork, Norway - this was code-named Operation Freshman. Guest author Dr. Bruce A. Tocher shares his research into this operation, and efforts to trace descendants of those involved.
  • Pilot standing in front of aircraft
    Australian War Memorial AWM2019.22.303
    Blog: Australia

    Aqaba, the Arab Revolt and Australia

    The Emir Feisal’s victory in taking Aqaba in July 1917 was of considerable strategic significance to the outcome of the First World War. The holding of Aqaba was, however, in the challenging days of 1917, not guaranteed. In this blog post, guest author James P. Brew shares his research into the role of Australian servicemen in this theatre of war.
  • Stitching into the printed map of Radom
    Laura Nathan
    Blog: Holocaust

    Engaging With Inherited Archives

    Laura Nathan is a contemporary textiles artist and through the support of an Arts Council England artist development grant (DYCP), she is currently exploring family archives surrounding her grandparents’ Holocaust narratives. In this blog post, Laura shares her reflections on the project.
  • a prisoner sitting at a desk, looking thoughtful
    © IWM Q102928
    Blog: Home Front

    Conscription and reform of the British penal system

    When the British government introduced conscription in 1916, no-one anticipated that this would lead to large numbers of conscientious objectors (COs) being held in civilian prisons, much less that it would have significant consequences for prison reform. In this post, Dr Frances Hurd shares her research into this topic.
  • Projection of a man lying on a floor
    Photo Bartosz Górka
    Blog: 14-18 NOW

    Finding an artist for the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund

    In summer 2023, Imperial War Museums (IWM) worked with Art School Plus and The Brickworks Museum to offer an exciting commissioning opportunity to an early-career artist as part of the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund. The programme supports more than 20 cultural organisations from across the UK to commission ambitious new artworks inspired by the heritage of conflict, created by world-leading and emerging contemporary artists.
  • People walking around art exhibition
    Blog: 14-18 NOW

    Behind the Bastion

    When the UK Armed Forces deploy overseas, they operate out of static locations known as operational bases. Historically and through to present day, troops on deployment personalise these spaces through a range of ‘placemaking’ activities, including displaying photos, creating murals, building furniture, and erecting signposts. Behind the Bastion engaged with veterans of the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan, currently based in the Lincolnshire area, to reflect on what ‘home’ means to them today and what it meant whilst deployed.
  • Projection of First World War soldiers, November 2022
    © University of Kent
    Blog: 14-18 NOW

    Reflections on Walking with Ghosts

    This month, Walking with Ghosts returned to Folkestone Harbour Arm Station. The immersive outdoor artwork had a powerful impact on audiences last year when it premiered at the historic station where so many crossed to and from the battlefields during the First World War. In this blog post, Professor Helen Brooks from University of Kent reflects on the impact of this powerful commission, part of the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund programme.
  • A wall of black and white images of Second World War pilots
    © American Library
    Blog: Memorials

    Celebrating 60 years of the American Library

    2023 marks 60 years since the first Memorial Library dedicated to the 2nd Air Division of the 8TH Air Force of the United States Army Forces (USAAF) was opened in Norwich, Norfolk. Today the library retains the identity first envisaged for it – that of a living memorial, a place where there is a shrine to the dead and a daily exchange of American thoughts and ideals. In this blog post, Orla Kennelly of the American Library shares details on this unique memorial and library.