Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums First World War project secures Heritage Lottery Fund support News release April 2014 Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

‘Wor Life 1914-18, Tyne & Wear in the First World War’, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ First World War project to commemorate the centenary of the start of the war has received financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Delivered in partnership with Sunderland Museums and Heritage, ‘Wor Life 1914-18’ will explore the contribution of Tyne and Wear to the First World War and delve into the War’s effect on the region. The impact of the War will be showcased through a series of art and history exhibitions, community projects, local history displays, commemoration events plus a unique mobile phone app. Councillor Ged Bell, Chair of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Joint Committee said: “When people think about WW1 they tend to think about the horror of the battlefields but the impact of the war was far-reaching and changed the lives of those back home as well. “Thanks to this generous funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund we will be telling the stories of people living in Tyne and Wear during WW1 and the amazing contribution they made to the war effort.   This promises to be an extraordinary programme of exhibitions, events and activities and we hope as many people as possible come along and find out about their region’s role in the Great War.” Councillor John Kelly, Sunderland City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Wellness and Culture added: “Sunderland, along with the rest of the North East can be proud of the contribution it made to the wider war-effort during the First World War. “As time passes it becomes ever-more difficult to imagine the reality of day to day life a century ago. With this in mind, working with our partners at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums and with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund this programme will help young and old appreciate the conditions at home and work during the dark days of war.” Ivor Crowther, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North East England, said: “The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching every corner of the UK. The Heritage Lottery Fund has already invested more than £47million in projects – large and small - that are supporting this Centenary. The many-layered Wor Life 1914-18 project will enable the people of Tyne & Wear to explore the continuing legacy of this conflict and help local young people in particular to broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world.” A programme of seven exhibitions in venues across Tyne and Wear will look at a variety of subjects including the changing role of women during the war, the region’s industrial input into the war effort and the psychological trauma suffered by returning soldiers. The first exhibition, Paintings of World War I, will open at the Laing Art Gallery on 10 May 2014. Exhibitions will also be on show at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend, Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives in Newcastle, Newcastle University’s Hatton Gallery and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens. A series of events including talks, lectures and schools workshops will also take place across Tyne & Wear venues including the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead.