The RAF Museum Cosford will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One with two more exhibitions that begin this month.
The Great War Commemorative Touring Exhibition will be heading to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford this month as part of a year-long tour of the country.
The exhibition consists of two bodies of work of various media in which the artist’s hope to slow the clouding memories of World War One and in this way, pay their respect to those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
This collection of work is presented by the Cheshire Artist Network, an organisation of over fifty professional visual artists who live and work in Cheshire. The network was founded over ten years ago and their aim is to expand the opportunities for artists to develop their practice, as well as encouraging greater public appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts.
During the opening week, there will be a lecture on the Art of War taking place on Thursday 19th June between 7.00-9.00pm. The lecture is free of charge and anyone wishing to attend is asked to register their interest in advance as places are limited, please email: cosford@rafmuseum.org or call the museum on 01902 376200.
The Great War Commemorative Exhibition will travel the country during 2014 and will be on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford from Sunday 15th June to Friday 18th July 2014 in the museum’s temporary exhibition gallery in Hangar 1. Entry to the museum and to view the exhibition is free of charge.
From Wednesday 18th June visitors at the museum will be able to get hands on with the First World War during free handling sessions with a collection of memorabilia from the museum’s handling collection and items on loan from the British Red Cross.
Items on display will include a First World War pilot flying coat and hat, a collection of maps used by pilots during the war, postcards sent from personnel on the frontline to their families back at home and First World War aircraft propellers that have since been turned into decorative pieces. Visitors will be able to compare and contrast the clothing and the maps used by pilots of the First World War compared with those used during World War Two.
During the centenary year, the British Red Cross are supporting events around the country by loaning out some of their items. Cosford will be displaying a variety of British Red Cross memorabilia from the First World War over the next month. Items within this collection include a 1914 First Aid Manual, replica First World War Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurses uniforms and recruitment posters, plus a variety of medical instruments and items used by the Red Cross 100 years ago.
Sessions will run every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 1pm and 2pm in the museum’s Visitor Centre. Any visitors interested in learning more about the First World War are encouraged to attend one of the sessions over the next month and speak with the staff on hand, as well as being able to handle rare items from the First World War. This is a drop in session and visitors do not need to book in advance.