‘Everything’s contested’: Capturing audience and curatorial reflections on the Imperial War Museum’s exhibition ‘Northern Ireland: Living with the Troubles’ (IWM London and IWM North 2023-2024)

This report presents a summary of our engagement activities with members of the public and curators regarding the Imperial War Museum’s temporary exhibition ‘Northern Ireland: Living with the Troubles’ (2023–2024). The exhibition was designed to engage diverse audiences with the complex legacy of the Troubles through personal testimony and inclusive storytelling. The research, conducted by Prof. Katy Parry (University of Leeds) and Dr Jenna Pitchford-Hyde (University of East Anglia), involved focus groups with veterans, Irish community members, and university students, alongside interviews with curators. Our research explored the effectiveness of the curatorial approach and its underpinning values, exposed through dialogue with visitor communities and the exhibition team.