Victory 80

In 2025, the UK will mark the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory in Japan (VJ) Day, two pivotal moments that have shaped modern history.

To support museums in commemorating these events, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has asked Museum Development to distribute a special, one-off grant scheme.

The aim is for the projects to support any or all of the concepts around remembrance and cohesion via storytelling around national effort, national unity, shared history, wartime history, wartime legacy and collective futures. The grant will enable museums sitting at the heart of their communities to connect via these themes.

Working in 20 communities across the country, the programme of funding will enable creative and cultural activity from museums in response to the anniversary.

This VE and VJ Day commemoration project is supported using public funding by UK Government through Arts Council England.

This grant has now closed for applications.

In 2025–2026 the grant is funding the following museums:

• Fusiliers Museum, London
• Headstone Manor & Museum, Harrow
• Redbridge Museum

Projects will be completed by March 2026 and detailed case studies will be available from April 2026 onwards.