STUDENTS and staff at Blackburn Museum are working across the generations to produce a special First World War exhibition.

The project will concentrate on the experiences of local soldiers and civilians in the 1914 to 1918 conflict. Curators and experts at the museum have teamed up with students at the University Centre of Blackburn College to produce an exhibition on themes of conflict, change and memory, running from June 7.

It is part of a four year programme of events and activities at Blackburn Museum relating to local experiences of the First World War.

Titled ‘Their Story, Our Story: Responses to Blackburn and Darwen in the Great War’, students of contemporary textiles, fashion and interiors will showcase new pieces of work alongside contemporary artefacts from the museum collection.

Visitors will be encouraged to connect with stories told through personal objects left behind from those affected by what was a world changing conflict.

They will also engage with the processes of the artists and designers in creating their responses to the local experience of war. The exhibition, running from June 7, is the first in what will be a four year programme of events and activities around the centenary of the war.

It aims to be a sensitive reflection on the conflict and a striking display of contemporary art.

The exhibition is one of many events commemorating World War One at the Museum and across the borough sponsored by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The include the refurbishment of the war memorial in the Cathedral grounds and restoration of the full list of names of the dead, poppy plantings and community events using cash from the borough’s ‘Your Call’ initiative.

Details can be found on the website www.blackburn.gov.uk