Queen Mary University of London and Imperial War Museums Institute forge pioneering collaboration to Illuminate history of the Second World War and the Holocaust

Today, Queen Mary University of London and the Imperial War Museums (IWM) Institute proudly announce a pioneering collaboration to build and share new understanding of the Second World War and the Holocaust. Uniting historical expertise and curatorial excellence, the partnership will advance cutting-edge research, enhance educational opportunities, and provide unparalleled insights to the public in the iconic settings of IWM’s London sites.

The inaugural outcome of this collaboration will be two public-facing 'masterclasses' set to take place in March 2024. The first masterclass, focusing on Winston Churchill, will be held in the historic Churchill War Rooms. The second masterclass on the Holocaust will unfold at IWM London, the site of IWM’s award-winning Holocaust Gallery.

These masterclasses will serve as a blueprint for future collaborative initiatives, paving the way for postgraduate education, research endeavour, and knowledge exchange activities between Queen Mary University of London and the IWM Institute.

The collaboration draws out of a longstanding connection between IWM and Professor Dan Todman from Queen Mary University of London’s  School of History, who served on the museum’s academic advisory board for the redesign of its First and Second World War galleries. “Academic and public interest in these defining moments of modern history remain very high as we approach the 80^th anniversary of the end of the war.” says Professor Todman. “We are proud to bring together Queen Mary University of London and IWM’s expertise in researching and communicating the complexities of these profound events. In line with Queen Mary University of London’s strategic objectives, this collaboration will bring fresh understandings to new audiences that physically embody the past.”

Gill Webber, Executive Director of the IWM Institute said, “At IWM, we are excited to be able to share the expertise of our curators and provide access to objects not usually on display with these public masterclasses. We hope participants will gain an understanding of the richness of IWM’s collections as they spend a day expanding their knowledge in the company of our experts and fellow enthusiasts.”