Guiding Lights is a Learning and Participation Project that aims to bring a unique dimension to Illuminated Arboretum, representing the National Memorial Arboretum's commitment to being freely open to all.
The project showcases the power of storytelling through collective creativity. Working with a wide range of participants in schools and community settings weaving the threads of arts, culture, history, and remembrance.
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Over 1000 local children joined us on a captivating journey into the magic of light at the National Memorial Arboretum, discovering how light surrounds us, guides us, and helps us remember.
Led by Arbie the Owl, our curious feathered friend, this inspiring project invited KS1 and early KS2 pupils to take part in two creative school workshops. During participatory sessions, the students worked with an artist to design and decorate their own personal lights of Remembrance, each one a glowing contribution to a stunning final installation at the Arboretum.
Over 80 community participants came together through a series of arts-based workshops to create 30 large poppies, displayed as part of the Illuminated Arboretum route.
Crafted from recycled materials, the artworks offered participants a chance to connect with others, learn new skills, and reflect on remembrance and its personal meaning.
Together, they explored the universal symbol of remembrance, the poppy, bringing it to life through creativity, collaboration, and shared reflection.
Gallery Two | 5 December 2025 - 8 March 2026 | Free
The VJ Indian Army Project, created in partnership with the Royal British Legion and artist Mahtab Hussain, celebrates the bravery and unity of the 2.5 million soldiers of the British Indian Army who served during the Second World War.
At its heart stands a powerful bronze sculpture honouring the diverse soldiers of the British Indian Army, symbolising strength, sacrifice, and solidarity.
Alongside the sculpture, the striking Art Deco–inspired poster “We Won the War Together” pays tribute to their shared fight for freedom and equality, reinforcing the project’s message of remembrance, unity, and recognition across communities.
Working with over 1,000 Year 9 students, the project extended into schools through a creative learning programme inspired by Mahtab’s artistic practice. Students explored themes of identity, service and remembrance, reflecting on the stories of the British Indian Army and their global legacy.
Through a series of artist-led workshops, they developed their own poster artworks, translating their understanding into powerful visual responses. These student creations are curated and displayed as part of the exhibition, forming a vibrant, collective tribute that connected young people to history through creativity and collaboration.
