BP poppies Scene from the Why War Big Picture Show in the Main Exhibition Space at IWM North. Photo: Mark Follon © IWM
The Imperial War Museum North is preparing for Remembrance Week with a series of events and displays.
The Special Exhibitions gallery will be hosting a poppy display between Sunday November 6 and Sunday November 13 2005. Visitors are invited to add their own messages of remembrance.
Other displays include The North at War, in the Special Exhibition Gallery until January 8 2006. This is the first exhibition to look at how the two world wars affected the north of England.
It focuses on the real lives of men, women and children living in the north during wartime and examines how the Home Front contributed to the effort, the lives that were shattered by tragedy, and the tremendous celebrations that took place after the war ended.
Soldiers visiting their comrade's grave in Burma. On display in the Not Forgotten exhibition in the Waterway. © Imperial War Museum
A moving exhibition of portraits and personal accounts can also be seen at the WaterWay until January 2 2006.
Set up with the help of the Manchester and Merseyside branches of the National Federation of Far Eastern Prisoner of War (FEPOW) Clubs and Associations, Not Forgotten tells the story of men who survived appalling conditions while prisoners of in the Far East.
The Loss Tower on display in The North At War special exhibition. © Jan Chlebik
As usual, there will be a two-minute silence at 11am on both Friday 11th and Sunday 13th November when visitors and staff will pause to remember the people who lost their lives as a result of war.
But as well as the serious message, there is also some fun to be had. On Sunday November 20, GI Jive dancers will be hosting some lively dance classes.
The Loss Tower on display in The North At War special exhibition. © Jan Chlebik
On November 12 and 13, kids can take part in drama workshops. There are also dressing up activities, museum trails and handling sessions of museum artefacts plus dozens of other activities for adults and children.
The museum also has long-term displays in its main exhibition space. The Big Picture is a 360-degree, multi-screen, surround sound display which reflects on how people's lives have been shaped by war.
For information about these and other events visit the Imperial War Museum North website.
