The Brickworks Museum in Bursledon is part of the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund, a national partnership programme of over 20 artist commissions inspired by the heritage of conflict. 

Led by Imperial War Museums, the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund was created following the success of 14- 18 NOW, the official UK arts programme for the First World War centenary. 

This brick barrow reuses a Spitfire tyre

Mary Flinn, Collections Manager for The Brickworks Museum, says, “After the devastation of the Blitz in Southampton came a period of rebuilding and our site, which was then a thriving brick factory, was at the forefront of the regeneration work. Through this project we want to explore people’s memories of Southampton in the years immediately after the Second World War and use their words to inspire a new piece of art at the Museum.’ 

The project is funded with a share of the royalties from Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed film They Shall Not Grow Old, co-commissioned by IWM and 14-18 NOW.  

In addition to The Brickworks Museum, nine new partners in total are joining this expanding art commissioning programme,  including Bentley Priory Museum in Stanmore; The Box in Plymouth; Ffotogallery in Cardiff; Freedom Festival Arts Trust in Hull; The Harris Museum in Preston; Nerve Centre in Derry Londonderry; Sweet Patootee Arts based in London; and The Unicorn Preservation Society in Dundee. 

Rebecca Newell, Head of Art for Imperial War Museums says, “The IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy fund builds on Imperial War Museums’ rich and longstanding history of commissioning art. One year into this programme, we are delighted by the diversity of exceptional arts experiences that have been created and shared with audiences. We look forward to expanding this work with artists, organisations and communities across the UK, continuing to highlight stories of conflict in engaging and creative ways.” 

 The Brickworks Museum will work with community groups to record people’s memories of post-war Southampton before commissioning an artist to create a piece inspired by them. The new installation will be launched at the Museum in 2024.