National Memorial Arboretum invites families to experience The Art of Remembrance

The National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, has unveiled a new free summer programme, The Art of Remembrance, inviting visitors to discover how art helps keep important memories alive. Until Sunday 30 August, The Art of Remembrance will offer a pathway of reflection through thought-provoking installations, performances and participatory activities, helping visitors of all ages explore Remembrance together.

“At the Arboretum, we use artistic expression to interpret complex stories in an honest, sensitive manner, providing a safe space for discovery, reflection and understanding,” said Rachel Smith, Head of Participation and Learning at the National Memorial Arboretum. “A rich year-round cultural programme ensures that these memories are not only preserved but are made accessible to everyone. The Art of Remembrance invites visitors of all ages to create explore, and remember as they make new memories to treasure.”

Songs, Sounds and Stories (18 July to 30 August, 10am to 5pm, free)

This part of the programme offers an opportunity for quieter reflection through a series of three newly commissioned sound pieces, bringing Remembrance to life through music and storytelling.

Developed in partnership with the Arboretum’s associate partners, all-female a cappella group Black Voices, South Asian arts and heritage charity Sampad, and participants from the Arboretum’s Talent in the Ranks artist development programme, the sound installations combine music, spoken word and storytelling, encouraging reflection on love, separation, grief, resilience, companionship and endurance across decades of generations. Benches, decorated by artists who champion visual conversations and explore themes including identity, memory and belonging, provide a peaceful space for visitors to pause and reflect.

Printed transcripts of all the sound pieces will also be available upon request at the Arboretum’s Welcome Desk.

Beaming: family theatre performances (each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday until 30 August, at 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm, free)

Beaming is a 20-minute-family theatre performance designed to introduce younger audiences to themes of Remembrance through storytelling, music and interaction.

Following the adventures of the curious young Penny, as well as Ernest, the Keeper of Remembrance, the production explores ideas of memory, connection, service and sacrifice, highlighting that Remembrance is not just about looking back, but passing memories forward.

Beaming is a brand-new production commissioned by the Arboretum, written and directed by Emily Summers and produced by Bostin Creative.

Advance online booking is recommended to guarantee a place. This can be done so, here.

Stones of Memory (18 July to 30 August, free)

Curated by renowned mosaic artist, Llynda Baugh, this participatory artwork invites visitors to contribute to a growing collection of individually decorated stones, each representing a personal reflection, tribute or story. During the programme, thousands of personalised artworks will come together to create a wider expression of Remembrance, illustrating how individual stories intertwine to form a shared, national memory.

Workshop Wednesdays (music-making: 22 July, 5 August and 19 August, at 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm, free. Drop-in arts and crafts: 29 July, 12 August and 26 August, from 11am to 3pm, free)

Every week, the Arboretum is hosting a series of drop-in sessions for younger visitors and families. Alternating between music making and arts and crafts, with a different theme each time, the workshops invite visitors to explore Remembrance in a relaxed and informal setting.

For more information on The Art of Remembrance, visit the Arboretum’s website.