Local Stories of the Second World War and Reflections on the Holocaust Brought to Life Through New IWM Sound Installation

The opening of the Imperial War Museum’s new ground-breaking Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries at IWM London on Thursday 20 October 2021 will also include a new digital installation providing a unique, immersive sound experience for visitors looking at local stories of the Second World War and reflections on the Holocaust which will tour round the UK in 2022 and 2023.

The digital installation is part of the IWM’s Second World War and Holocaust Partnership Programme (SWWHPP) which was established to collaborate with cultural partners across the UK and engage new audiences in projects which explore local Second World War and Holocaust collections and themes within the national context. 

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Rachel Donnelly, IWM SWWHPP Project Manager  to find out more.

Rachel began by telling Toby about the background to the project, working with the partner venues, the development of the sound installation and how some of the stories were brought to life through a number of writers who were involved in the project. 

Rachel also talked about the accompanying Braille material produced by the RNIB and the collaboration with RNIB NI members on the Northern Island story.

The interview includes an extract from the beginning of ‘I serve, I rise’ by Amina Atiq for Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.

The sound installation can be experienced at IWM London from Thursday 20 October 2021 with the installation going on tour to the partner venues during 2022 and 2023. 

The immersive sound stories can also be found along with more background information and tour details from the project website - 

SWWHPP was generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the eight regional partners are Aberystwyth University/Prifysgol Aberystwyth; Bodmin Keep and the Museum of Cornish Life; The Holocaust Survivors’ Friendship Association, Leeds and Huddersfield; Manchester Jewish Museum; The National Holocaust Centre and Museum, Nottinghamshire; National Museums Northern Ireland and Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.

(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)