- Doors Open: 11:00 am
- Gallery Hall
- Free: £
- Family Fun & Celebrations
Our Freedom Then and Now: Wolverhampton in The Second World War
Wolverhampton Arts Centre, Gazebo TIE, RAF Midlands Museum and LearnPlay Foundation invite you to a free family day exploring Wolverhampton life during the Second World War.
Featuring a programme of free family fun activities including period photography, an inter-active technology display bringing past and present to life, exhibitions of WW2 artefacts, creative workshops and light refreshments.
Our Future Then and Now: Wolverhampton in The Second World War – A free day of creative activities, exhibitions and refreshments
Step back 80 years and discover Wolverhampton’s wartime stories through hands-on making, sound, costume and pop-up performance.
As the former Municipal Grammar School, WAC played its part in the Second World War: teachers and former pupils served in the armed forces, students sorted and delivered mail, and the school dining hall became a British Restaurant serving nutritious, affordable meals without ration coupons.
As part of the nationwide Our Future Then and Now celebrations, we’re opening our doors for a lively, family-friendly day exploring life on the Home Front and what freedom means to us today.
What’s On
- -Interactive Sound Wall by Learn Play – blending 3D art and evocative soundscapes from “then” and “now.”
- -Exhibition & Uniforms to Try On from RAF Museum Midlands (formerly RAF Museum Cosford).
- -Badge & Medal Making with RAF Museum Midlands.
- -Costumed Characters & Pop-up Moments from Gazebo bringing wartime Wolverhampton to life.
- -DJ set with music from the 1930s and 40s.
- -Photography Booth with Costumes
- -Tea and Light Refreshments, expect a cuppa, a cake and a biscuit or two.
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- Creative workshop ‘Dig for Victory’ – Paper Mâché Model Making with Tat Vision.
- Creative workshop ‘Make Do & Mend’ – Sewing, Repair and Upcycling with Reinvntd.
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Event Schedule
Two identical sessions will run across the day. Please book one session per person.
Morning session: 11.00am–1.00pm
Afternoon session: 1.30pm–3.30pm
All activities exhibitions, workshops and sound installation are included in your free ticket. You can dip in and out of whatever catches your eye during your booked session.
Who It’s For
Families, history buffs and anyone curious about the city’s past. It’s a lovely way to spend a few hours together, so bring the kids along for some hands-on fun. Activities are suitable for all ages and can be enjoyed at your own pace.
Tickets & Booking
Free admission
Advance booking essential
Limited free tickets per session, choose Adult or Child tickets when booking
Good to Know
Refreshments will be served by WAC staff in the café (tea, coffee, soft drinks and a scone; plus extra treats while stocks last).
Most activities are relaxed, drop-in style.
Come for the stories. Stay for the making. Leave with new skills, a good brew, and a fresh perspective on the freedoms we share today.
The project centres around the Arts Centre, formerly a Grammar school with a deep Second World War history. By spotlighting the building’s wartime role and linking it with local stories, such as Wolverhampton’s connections to RAF Cosford and the community-funded Spitfires, community voices will shape a uniquely Wolverhampton interpretation of wartime resilience and contemporary freedom. Read more about the history of Wolverhampton Arts Centre
“Our Freedom: Then and Now”, is part of a £2 million national creative programme marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Supported by the UK Government through Arts Council England, the Future Arts Centres and Libraries Connected initiative will see 60 arts centres and libraries across Britain present community-led projects exploring the legacy of VE Day and VJ Day. “Our Freedom: Then and Now” empowers artists, veterans and residents to explore themes of past and present freedoms through 60 creative projects, including exhibitions, performances and installations running from June to November 2025.
Read more about the nationwide celebrations
