VJ Commemoration – V80 Grants Update
As we remember VJ Day on 15 August, we wanted to share an update on the work of the northern museums who were awarded V80 grants.
The UK Government has supported Arts Council England in allocating £500,000 worth of funds to Museum Development partners across England to support 21 V80 Day projects. Five projects were allocated funds in the North of England.
Bankfield Museum and Kohima Museum
Bankfield Museum in Halifax and Kohima Museum in York are presenting a joint V80 project. So far, the Kohima Museum has undertaken conservation work on their Indian National Army flag which is a key item in their exhibition Victoria Crosses of the Burma Campaign which opened on 26 June and runs to 4 September 2025. They also had a visit from Mr Masaki Ikegami, Deputy Head of Mission at the Japanese Embassy on the first day of the exhibition. They will remember VJ Day on 15 August with an event involving re-enactors in the centre of York, at York Army Museum.
Bankfield Museum are working hard to deliver their VJ Day 1940s event which will be held on 16 August and features military re-enactors, societies and vehicles, a forties fashion show, music, dancing and children’s activities, including an assault course and ration themed trail. They have produced a pop-up exhibition on the Burma Campaign and the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment’s involvement. Kohima Museum will be attending the VJ Day 1940s event and Bankfield Museum have arranged a return visit with local residents to the Kohima Museum. Ethan Harvey, Lives of the Past, is delivering free family sessions over the summer holidays and a new WWII schools offer is currently being developed and will be delivered in the autumn.
Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
Ushaw in County Durham held a very successful two-day event in early July, Way Back When 40s which was attended by over 1000 people. The event featured a WW2 military firing display, British Army cuisine courtesy of the 29th Field Kitchen, a talk about D-Day, display of military vehicles, vintage music and dancing. The team are also working on research for the exhibition later in the year.
The Beacon Museum
The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven is currently putting an exhibition together that will open in September.
Service, Solidarity and Sacrifice is a story-led exhibition that reveals how local people experienced World War II and marks the 80th Anniversary year of VE Day and VJ Day. Inspirational stories of heroism and bravery demonstrate that during World War II ordinary people did extraordinary things. Key local themes will be examined including evacuees, the home guard, enemy aliens, war industry and funding campaigns. The exhibition will also showcase many objects which represent individuals who experienced active service during the war and will include local case studies, oral testimonies and interactive activities.
Portland Basin Museum
Portland Basin Museum launched its Victory! exhibition in July which is proving very popular with visitors. They also held a free family event day at the museum which welcomed over 1000 visitors. Activities included costumed characters on the old street, interacting with visitors and doing singalongs, Make Do and Mend crafts, henna painting, Dig for Victory seed planting and a visit from the Manchester Regiment group in their home guard uniforms. The team are awaiting the delivery of a new museum spec showcase which will be added to the exhibition and filled with souvenirs and memorabilia from this year’s commemorations as well as photos and other items linked to related events held in the borough.
Pannett Art Gallery
Pannett Art Gallery in Whitby will be hosting a diverse set of engagement events, exploring the experiences of local people, including food, rationing and the adaptation from wartime to peacetime.
[Images left to right show Bob White from Kohima Museum with Mr Masaki Ikegami from the Japanese Embassy, Portland Basin Museum’s family event and part of their exhibition ‘Victory!’.]
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