Crowds stand in a room to view an installation by artist Heather Phillipson. The crowd look up to illuminated parachute structures suspended in the air.
Photographer: Polly Thomas.
Out of this World, Heather Phillipson, 2024. An IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund commission in Partnership with Glynn Vivian Art Gallery

The IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund is a national partnership programme of over 20 artist commissions inspired by the heritage of conflict. Through the Fund, a total of £2.5 million is being made available to artists and cultural partners across the UK.

Created by world-leading and emerging contemporary artists, including Michael Rakowitz, Cathy Wilkes, Heather Phillipson and Compagnie XY, the ongoing programme of new commissions has forged new opportunities for artistic engagement, brought art to audiences in new and relevant ways and connected people, places and experiences. These partnership opportunities were an important part of cultural recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Led by Imperial War Museums, the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund was created following the success of 14-18 NOW, the official UK arts programme for the First World War centenary.

The IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund programme commissions will go on public display across the UK between 2022 and 2025.

The Commissions

Photograph of Downhill Demesne in Northern Ireland, a large mansion, covered with a paper artwork to the front of the house. The artwork depicts a woman with her hands stretched open to the sky
Courtesy of Nerve Centre
We Can Do Better, Joe Caslin, 2024. An IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund Commission in partnership with Nerve Centre

The commissions explore themes ranging from experiences of conflict in the First World War up to the current refugee crisis, and take various forms including, sculpture, performance, digital artworks, graphic novels and installations.

Find out more about these projects here.