About

The Peace Museum explores the events and history of people and organisations that have worked to promote peace, non-violence and conflict resolution.  It is the only museum in the UK dedicated to the collection, conservation, and interpretation of material relating to the history and development of peace, nonviolence and conflict resolution. Through exhibitions and learning activities, The Peace Museum aims to help build a ‘culture of peace’ in the here and now.

The Peace Museum offers an interesting programme of travelling exhibitions and permanent exhibitions.  Travelling exhibitions are available to any interested organisation and are have been on display at diverse venues in the UK, Europe, Asia and North America.

The Peace Museum welcome welcomes individual and group visits and offers a tailored programme of school visits.

The Peace Museum has a unique collection of over 5,500 items, including posters, banners, badges, leaflets, booklets, photographs, memorabilia, film, oral history, and audio.  One-of-a-kind artefacts help bring the stories of peace and justice movements and individual peacemakers to life and inspire museum audiences.

Background

The initial idea of creating a peace museum arose in the mid-1980s from Gerald Drewett of the Give Peace a Chance Trust.   In 1990 the idea was carried forward and given substantial form when Shireen Shah, an MA student at Bradford University’s Peace Studies Department, wrote her dissertation proposing a ‘Museum for Peace’.  Two years on, the International Network of Museums for Peace held its first conference at the University of Bradford in 1992, during which it was proposed that a Peace Museum be established in Bradford and a committee was established to seek finance and general support for the idea. Initially called ‘The National Peace Museum Project’, the museum became established in 1994 through a five-year grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Foundation and operated out of a temporary site in Bradford city centre.  In 1998 the museum moved to its present site within the historic Commercial Bank building on Piece Hall Yard in Bradford city centre.

Structure

The Peace Museum is a charity and is a company limited by guarantee with twelve Trustees.  It is independent and has no political affiliation.  It is registered as a museum by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and is a member of the International Network of Museums for Peace.

Registered charity no: 1061102
Registered company no: 3297915