The Peace Museum’s unique exhibitions explore peace history as well as contemporary issues, local heritage, peacemakers' stories and the ways in which people have worked to make the world a better place to live.

Our galleries are currently closed to the public as we prepare to move premises, but you can still learn more about our galleries, and view our current digital and pop-up exhibitions below. 

Our Digital Exhibitions

Peace Out

Peace Out is a project exploring Peace and LGBTQ+ activism. 

The exhibition first launched in 2019 on the occasion of 50 years since the Stonewall Riots in the museum’s main galleries. It has now been updated and made digital for 2021.

The exhibition aims to explore the journey from Stonewall, a moment in history that exemplifies violence perpetrated against LGBTQ+ people and their violent retaliation, and marks the beginning of the following struggle for equality and justice. 

The first exhibition in the galleries was supported with funding from Museum Development Yorkshire. Peace OUT+ for 2021 was made possible thanks to funding from the Art Fund.

The exhibition is available to view now at www.peaceoutexhibition.com 

Bombs...Away!

Bombs… Away! is a new digital exhibition exploring aerial bombardment, which uses The Peace Museum’s unique collection to examine both the impact of civilian bombing on society and the peace campaigns that have formed in response.

This project was supposed to launch at the museum as an exhibition in May 2020, but was delayed due to the covid-19 pandemic. We’re excited to be able to finally present this project as a digital exhibition.

The project has been possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

 View the exhibition now at https://www.bombsawayexhibition.com/

Peace and Pandemic

Peace and Pandemic is a digital exhibition exploring the peace movement’s response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Since March 2020, when the World Health Organization officially declared the Covid-19 Pandemic, the museum has been collecting stories of the peacemakers’ responses, in order to keep the global community hopeful and connected.

Peace and Pandemic is an ongoing and responsive exhibition – if you have an object or story you’d like to contribute you can email our team at [email protected]

You can view the online exhibition now on website here

Pop-up Exhibitions

Defining Peace: Past, Present & Future - Kala Sangam, Bradford 

Tue 10 May – Fri 29 Jul 2022

A new exhibition which asks the question “what is peace?”.

Peace means something different to everybody, and the ways that people work to create a more peaceful world are also just as varied. As well as exploring the history of peacemaking through some of the museum’s collections, visitors will be able to add to the exhibition with their ideas about peace - what it means to them, and what it means to Bradford in 2022. 

If you're unable to visit the exhibition in person you can see some of the objects featured and have your say about what peace means to you online by visiting: Defining Peace - Have your say | The Peace Museum

The exhibition is FREE to view during Kala Sangam's regular opening times (9am – 5pm Mon to Fri & 9am – 2pm Sat)

‘A Farewell to Arms?’ - Royal Armouries, Leeds

This exhibition was created in conjunction with the Royal Armouries and is on permanent display in the War Gallery on the second floor.  It focuses on the idea of conversion – from war to peace, from weapons and armour to useful tools or symbolic images.

The display explores the positive changes that have been – and are still being – made by individuals, groups and whole nations that choose to replace conflict with peace.

Our Current Galleries

Our galleries are currently closed to the public, but the most recent exhibitions at the museum have encompassed local, national and international peace history. Read more about the themes of our galleries and the objects displayed in them below. 

Conscientious Objection Gallery

Discover the stories of COs from WWI, WWII and modern examples of those who have chosen to not fight. Key objects include an original oil painting by Arthur William Gay, The Conchie, and the Prisoner of Conscience triptych sculpture. 

Contemporary Collecting Gallery

The museum has a contemporary collecting project, Protesting Now, Collecting for the Future, which aims to collect objects relating to peaceful protest and movements that are happening today. This gallery showcases these objects in different exhibitions. The current one, Peace Out, explores LGBTQ+ activism the stories of LGBTQ+ peacemakers. 

Greenham Common - Common Ground, Uncommon Women Exhibition

The museum has a large collection relating to the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire. Objects include some incredible textile banners created by artist Thalia Campbell, and original padlocks and fencing used by women during peaceful protests against the UK government's nuclear weapons policy. This exhibition also includes original CND placards from the first Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament march in 1958. 

Temporary Exhibitions Area

The museum has a temporary exhibitions programme which sees 3-4 exhibitions open per year. Past exhibitions have included A Flawed Peace? that explored the peace process at the end of WWI and The Etiquette of the Arms Trade art exhibition by artist Jill Gibbon. The museum often works with artists and other organisations to host exhibitions in this area. Please get in touch with our team if you have an idea for a temporary exhibition on [email protected].

Sadako Sasaki Mini Exhibition

Discover the story of Sadako Sasaki and the paper cranes. A particular favourite of children visiting the museum. 

Bradford Room

Our ‘Bradford Room’ chronicles Bradford’s long affinity with peace, peacemaking and peacemakers, such as the famous Hockneys and social campaigners Margaret Macmillan and William Forster.

Take a look at our Past Projects page to find out about our previous exhibitions and projects. 

Travelling Exhibitions

The Museum has several travelling exhibitions which can be loaned out and displayed. Take a look at our travelling exhibitions post or click the link to find out more information.