The D-Day Story is undertaking several new community engagement activities inspired by its ‘Victory in 80 Objects’ book.
The outreach projects are working with groups in Portsmouth including adults with learning disabilities, students and young adults, who are using the objects in the book as a source of inspiration.
The creative workshops are being run by The D-Day Story and Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery’s engagement teams.
Each group visits The D-Day Story museum to view its collection and then use this, along with the book, for inspiration.
The various workshops include:
Dig for Victory for adults with learning disabilities being supported by Portsmouth City Council’s Independence and Wellbeing service and students from Mary Rose Academy. Led by actor-historian Jane Glennie, they are planting wartime crops, cooking ration-era recipes, and crafting posters inspired by the Second World War.
Songwriting workshops with musician Lucy Bertram and 432 NOMADS are empowering participants from HAVEN (Portsmouth City of Sanctuary) to turn museum visits into a powerful song about hope and togetherness.
VE Day 80 film project features young people aged 18–24 who are currently not in education, employment, or training who are learning filmmaking with Millstream Productions, creating short videos about Second World War artefacts from The D-Day Story. Through workshops and interviews with local women who remember VE Day, they are gaining skills and sharing powerful stories.
Art workshops with professional artist Liam O’Farrell are starting soon with the Cross Cultural Women’s Group. Participants are exploring Victory in Europe (VE) and Victory over Japan (VJ) history through pencil and watercolour, sketching key artefacts including the Landing Craft Tank at The D-Day Story.
Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said:
“This latest community engagement by our museums team is helping to inspire different groups of people in Portsmouth to learn about the Second World War in really creative ways.”
The workshops have been running throughout October to December 2025, with a celebration planned for January 2026 at The D-Day Story. During this time the participants’ artwork, films and song will be on display. This will be open to the public with more details to follow. The outputs from the project will also be on display at Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery from the end of January 2026.
The outreach work was funded by a grant from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and awarded by Museum Development South West with thanks to support from Arts Council England.
Find out more about Victory in 80 Objects at theddaystory.com/victory-in-80-objects/
The book can be purchased through the museum’s website or in The D-Day Story museum shop.
