2014-2018 marks 100 years since the First World War. This was not only a pivotal time in world history but also marks the beginning of IWM’s history – the museum was originally established in 1917 to collect and display material relating to the Great War, which was still being fought.
IWM (Imperial War Museums) will mark the occasion through a vibrant four-year cultural programme that includes the opening of the new permanent First World War galleries at IWM London, an exhibition at IWM North, learning activities in all five branches, family history events, loans to other museums and institutions, performances, broadcasting, retail products, publications and online projects. Several of these activities will be produced in partnership with other national and international organisations.
IWM has also launched the First World War Centenary Partnership, an initiative for any national and international organisations that will be commemorating the occasion. Through the partnership, colleagues from a variety of sectors have the opportunity to communicate with each other, share and combine resources, cooperate and co-develop products and services that complement each other so that as part of the First World War Centenary Programme we can develop a co-ordinated, comprehensive cultural and educational offer for the public. The IWM’s First World War Centenary team will manage the Centenary Partnership’s extranet until 2018 and will communicate partners’ projects and events as part of the overall Centenary Programme.
