Overview
The Second World War and Holocaust Partnership Programme (SWWHPP) led by IWM supported eight cultural heritage partners across the UK to engage with new audiences and share hidden or lesser-known stories related to these histories. The programme coincided with the opening of new Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries at IWM London.
Over three collaborative and exciting years, the SWWHPP established a digital internship scheme, supported skills development in Partner organisations and facilitated loans of IWM’s rich collection. The programme supported digital and community-based events co-produced with writers, community organisations and a diverse range of creative practitioners.
SWWHPP concluded in March 2023. IWM would like to thank all the partners, artists, volunteers and community members who made the programme a fantastic learning experience for everyone. IWM would also like to thank the National Lottery Heritage Fund who generously funded the programme.
Evaluating the Second World War and Holocaust Partnership Programme
Active reflection and evaluation were embedded throughout SWWHPP. Museum staff, digital interns and partners were encouraged to reflect on their experiences using an evaluation framework developed with external evaluators, m2 Consultants. The process aimed to develop skills and resilience in the cultural sector as well as building sustainable relationships between organisations and communities.
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‘We were meeting together as a disabled group, and we were just men in a room talking. And it wasn’t until we did these sessions that, you know, we became friends, we had something to say to each other.’
Participant in SWWHPP community engagement workshops in Northern Ireland, SWWHPP Evaluation, m2 Consultants.
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- 65,329 visitors attended Partners’ exhibitions.
- 189 volunteers took part in the Programme, with 1,834 volunteer hours given to SWWHPP.
- 75% of visitors were more interested in learning about history from diverse perspectives after visiting Partners’ exhibitions.
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‘We have moved on in terms of how we engage with our communities, and our understanding of how to tell different stories has also moved on. The confidence of the staff has grown, and organisation confidence has also developed.’
SWWHPP Partner organisation, SWWHPP Evaluation 2023, m2 Consultants.
Project Partners
Throughout the SWWHPP programme, IWM has worked closely with a variety of project partners. Find out more about the projects below.
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© Tyne & Wear Archives & MuseumsTyne & Wear Archives & Museums
The museum worked with local communities, families and researchers to develop an exhibition sharing the experiences of women and people from global majority communities during the Second World War on Tyneside.
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© The National Holocaust Centre and MuseumThe National Holocaust Centre and Museum
With a focus on exploring engaging narrative and new perspectives, the museum developed ‘The Listening Project’ with local communities whose voices are lesser-known in public spaces. Public events included walking tours and creative writing workshops.
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© Manchester Jewish MuseumManchester Jewish Museum
This project focused on sharing lesser-known stories of the Holocaust. The museum worked with young people around Manchester to explore how performative and creative responses to the Holocaust might lead to deeper engagement and change behaviours.
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© Brian Pinsent 1939Aberystwyth University
In sharing stories of refugees from National Socialism who fled to the area in the 1930s alongside those of contemporary refugees, Aberystwyth University created a touring exhibition and series of workshops entitled 'Refugees from National Socialism in Wales'.
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© Museum of Cornish LifeCornwall Museums Partnership
The focus of this project was to explore life in the County during the Second World War from many different perspectives. Working with local photographic archives and communities, the Museum of Cornish Life and Bodmin Keep Museum developed exhibitions and community events about the changes to people’s everyday lives as well as the arrival of military personnel from overseas.
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© National Museums NINational Museums NI
In Northern Ireland the stories of the Second World War are relatively hidden in comparison with those of the First World War. Working with a network of partners and communities, National Museums NI used this project to give a platform - through both online and offline resources - to hidden stories and collections relating to Second World War heritage in Northern Ireland.
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© Holocaust Survivors’ Friendship AssociationHolocaust Centre North
Exploring stories of Holocaust survivors in the North of England, the Centre worked with local communities and artists to create an audio guide for visitors, reflecting on memory and personal experiences.
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Industrial Museums ScotlandIndustrial Museums Scotland
Working in partnership with two member organisations in Fife and Dumfries & Galloway at the Scottish Fisheries Museum and the Devil’s Porridge Museum, the project focused on the role of local women in supporting the war effort and the development of coastal defences.
Related content
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©Rachel DonnellyIWM and Me
Museum Assistant Oliver Scurrah reflects on his experiences working with the partnership as part of the Kickstart programme.
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© Morris BrodieSWWPP digital intern reflections
In this guest blog, Morris Brodie, Digital Intern at Aberystwyth University, reflects on a Residential held at IWM London bringing together Interns across the Partnership.
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Blog post from National Museums NI
In this guest blog Jane Williams, Education Officer at National Museums NI, discusses their work in sharing local stories of the Second World War in Northern Ireland.
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On Entanglements
Hear from SWWHPP Digital Intern Paula Kolar as she starts her Internship with the Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association team based at Huddersfield University.
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Truposznica displayed in the Muzeum Etnograficzne KrakówPart one: Challenging histories in cultural spaces
Dr Bryce Lease, Head of Department - Drama, Theatre & Dance at Royal Holloway, University of London, discusses a SWWHPP workshop reflecting on artistic responses to and working creatively with challenging histories in cultural spaces.
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Part Two: Challenging histories in cultural spaces
Patrick Eakin Young, Director & Dramaturg, discusses a SWWHPP workshop reflecting on artistic responses to and working creatively with challenging histories in cultural spaces.
Discover more about IWM Partnerships at the Partnerships blog.
The SWWHPP was generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
