The Harris call out for Preston Second World War stories

20 October 2020

The Harris is working with the Imperial War Museum supported by funding from Art Fund, to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Second World War paintings from the Harris' collection will go on display with a painting from the Imperial War Museum from the 5 December 2020.

The paintings tell us about many aspects of life during the Second World War, from the roles of women to aerial warfare. The Harris wants to explore Preston stories too.

Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet member of culture and leisure, said,

Did you or a member of your family serve in the military?

Perhaps your Dad was in the Royal Air Force, or your grandma joined the Women's Land Army? Or maybe you have family memories of what it was like living in Preston during the Second World War?

We welcome Second World War stories from all walks of life and we'd love to hear from as many of you as possible.

Artist Anthony Padgett is working with the Harris to explore your stories and include them in the display. This will include taking a photograph of you at the Harris with a family treasure, such as a photo, medal or something else that helps to tell your story.

This will be done safely inline with all government advice on social distancing requirements.

How to take part

To take part, please email the Harris at theharris@preston.gov.uk

Use Second World War display in your subject heading.

Please include

• Your name and preferred contact details
• Your story, including the names of the people in your story and if possible dates and locations
• A description or photo of your family's object

Or if you prefer you can call us Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm on 01772 258248

We particularly encourage stories from:

• People of African or Caribbean heritage  
• People of South Asian heritage
• People who identify as LGBTQ+
• People who have lived experience of Disability
• People who identify as D/deaf

Please send us your stories by 4pm on Monday 2nd November

Art of the Second World War: Commemorating the 80^th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain

Display opens in the Harris on Saturday 5 December 2020.

Photo: Anthony Padgett on Lytham Sands

More information

• Based in Preston, Lancashire, the Harris is one of the leading museums, galleries and libraries in the region. Home to art collections of national significance, exciting activities and events for all ages and an award-winning contemporary art programme, the Harris welcomed over 380,000 visitors in 2018/2019.
• The Harris will make its final stage application to National Lottery Heritage Fund for £4.5million towards the Re-Imagining the Harris - #HarrisYourPlace project in November 2020.  This ambitious capital scheme has already received development funding of £180,500 from Heritage Fund and is supported by key partners including the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal.  Made possible by National Lottery players, #HarrisYourPlace is a one in 100 year opportunity to refurbish the Harris as a cultural and community hub for everyone.
• The Harris is proud to be an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation. The Harris consists of an art gallery, museum, library and café.
• Imperial War Museums (IWM) tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War. Our unique collections, made up of the everyday and the exceptional, reveal stories of people, places, ideas and events. Using these, we tell vivid personal stories and create powerful physical experiences across our five museums that reflect the realities of war as both a destructive and creative force. We challenge people to look at conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact on people's lives.
• Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. It provides millions of pounds every year to help museums acquire and share works of art across the UK, further the professional development of their curators, and inspires more people to visit and enjoy their public programmes.
• Art Fund is independently funded, supported by 159,000 members who buy the National Art Pass, who enjoy free entry to over 240 museums, galleries and historic places, 50% off major exhibitions, and receive Art Quarterly magazine.  Art Fund also supports museums through its annual prize, Art Fund Museum of the year, which was won by St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff, in 2019, and through a range of digital platforms.
• Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people's lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.