The Creative Core, a leading interpretation design company for museums, heritage and culture, has created a new visitor experience at the Peace Museum in West Yorkshire, UK.
The design incorporates a Think Feel Do approach, which uses storytelling and collections to engage visitors and inspire action.
The new exhibition, designed and built by the Creative Core, provides a resilient infrastructure for change, with flexible displays that can respond to growth in audiences and collections.
The Peace Museum’s Dr Áine McKenny says: “Core has helped us create a scheme that enabled us to move onto our next chapter. We reopened in August 2024 to a wonderful reception from the public and since then we have gone from strength to strength.”
Reimagined approach
The Peace Museum opened in 1998 in Piece Hall Yard, Bradford, and is the only museum in the UK dedicated to the history of peacemakers, peace movements, and social transformation. The museum’s objective is to collect, protect, and interpret peace-related objects for the benefit of all, sharing untold stories and promoting peace and nonviolence through community participation and learning.
Last year, the museum announced plans to relocate to the grade II listed Salts Mill in Saltaire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a new visitor experience designed by the Creative Core. The move was funded with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Bradford 2025 City of Culture.
Since this announcement, the Creative Core has collaborated with the museum to create a flexible and accessible exhibition design and complete the museum fit-out ready for its reopening in 2024.
The museum’s new premises and reimagined approach offer an exciting and thought-provoking experience, combining a heritage exhibition with space for learning, dialogue and participation.
Diverse perspectives
Visitors can explore historical and contemporary peace movements through the museum’s collection of banners, artwork, campaign materials, and personal items which have been donated by individuals and organisations worldwide. In addition, they can create their own protest artwork and leave their mark on the exhibition through interactive craft tables and collaborative displays, which encourage diverse perspectives on the meaning of peace.
Adam Knowles, interpretation manager at the Creative Core, says: “This project was an opportunity to interrogate the idea of peace – its nuance, power and frustrations. Eventually, we decided to ask visitors ‘what does peace mean to you?’
“Getting into the subject was a really humbling experience. Learning about the struggles of activists and hearing the voices of people striving for acceptance in today’s world.”
Earlier this year, The Creative Core shared details of its work on a significant renovation project at Bolton Library, UK. This multi-million-pound redevelopment was funded by the UK government’s Towns Fund and connected to broader regeneration initiatives for Bolton town centre.
