There is a wealth of material available to tell informative, engaging and challenging stories about the Troubles. Among these are: personal items, oral testimonies, clothing and uniforms, political literature, weapons, documentary photos, film and audio reports, music, art, drama and poetry. The Ulster Museum has already made an excellent start but is constrained by space from delivering the range of exhibits that would truly reflect the complexity of those troubled times and the initiatives for peace at local, national and international level. With Digital technology we can create immersive experiences that evoke the darkest days of the Troubles. With archive television clips we can also conjure up those moments of ordinary living, of people coping and of the quest for peace. Rock music, punk music, sport, comedy (including the famous ‘black humour’) are all part of the story. The museum would liaise with private collectors and the curators of existing collections to bring to the attention of the public Troubles memorabilia that have remained hidden for lack of space to display them. An acquisitions budget would enable the museum to purchase content and preserve it for posterity.
Creative responses to the Troubles are rich and varied. Drama, novels, poetry, music and the visual arts would all have a presence: from Seamus Heaney to the Divine Comedy, Paul Brady to Derry Girls.
In addition to the permanent displays, special exhibitions and commissions would highlight particular themes or anniversaries. An events programme would combine public workshops and discussions with academic conferences.