18 Oct 2013
Cockenzie House and Gardens are honoured to be selected to host the Great Tapestry of Scotland from this Saturday 19th October to 8th December. It will be the first time it goes on public display in Scotland since its debut in the Scottish Parliament.
The Great Tapestry of Scotland is a unique project to stitch the entire story of Scotland from pre-history to modern times and was the brainchild of Alexander McCall Smith. The 44 Scotland Street author, together with historian Alistair Moffat, artist Andrew Crummy, and stitch co-ordinator Dorie Wilkie, formed a team who initiated the production of the world's longest tapestry through one of the biggest community arts projects ever to take place in Scotland. The project took over two years to complete and required over 1,000 volunteer stitchers from all areas of Scotland, over 65,000 hours of stitching and over 300 miles of wool, all to depict 420 million years of Scottish history in 160 panels.
All 160 panels will be on display in the rooms of Cockenzie House. Many locals in the Port Seton area were involved in the stitching of this unique project and it is a great opportunity for the local community to enjoy the results.
Jim Brown, Director of Cockenzie House and Gardens said,.......
"We are proud to be the first venue in Scotland for the Tapestry out with the Scottish Parliament. It is also a tribute to Andrew Crummy, a local artist from Port Seton who did the artwork for the Tapestry. Cockenzie House will provide an excellent setting for the Tapestry and we are determined to do it proud. The exhibition will be an enormous challenge for a small organisation like ourselves but we have no doubt the local community will rally round to ensure its success. We look forward to welcoming the many visitors who will come to the town to view the Tapestry. This will really put Cockenzie House and Gardens on the map."
Alexander McCall Smith, Trustee for The Great Tapestry of Scotland says,......
"I am delighted that The Great Tapestry of Scotland will be on show at Cockenzie House. The Tapestry was created by a vast team of stitchers throughout Scotland but the very important design and stitching work was done in the area by Andrew Crummy, the artist, and Dorie Wilkie, the stitch co-ordinator - so I think it is highly appropriate that it will now be available for the people of the area to enjoy. And what enjoyment they can expect from this wonderful work of art! The Tapestry will, I think, bring great pleasure to those who visit Cockenzie House. "
Cockenzie House & Gardens is a newly established registered charity which aims to bring one of the the few remaining unique late 17th century Jacobean manager's houses in Scotland back in to community ownership. Cockenzie House and Gardens is open on a daily basis offering practical and elegant spaces for hire within easy access from Edinburgh - excellent exhibition and function space, a traditional tea room, studio space for artists and professional businesses and holiday accommodation.
The exhibition will run from Saturday 19th October to Sunday 8th December , open daily from 10am to 4pm, last admission 3pm. The £3.50 entrance fee is a small donation going to The Great Tapestry of Scotland and Cockenzie House.
For more details please see their website, www.cockenziehouse.com
ENDS
EDITOR NOTES
Cockenzie House & Gardens Ltd, 22 Edinburgh Road, Cockenzie & Port Seton, EH32 0HY
Reg. Scottish Charity Number SC044016
01875 819 456
For more information on The Great Tapestry of Scotland please see their website, www.scotlandstapestry.com
For press enquiries please contact Su Hesketh su@crimsonedge.co.uk 0131 311 7050
