23.03.2012
The first stitch on what is believed to be the longest embroidered tapestry in the world will be sewn at the Scottish Parliament this morning by the Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP.
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Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP applies the first stitch to the Great Tapestry of Scotland.
Holyrood will exhibit the completed 141-metre-long embroidered tapestry in August 2013.
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Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP with historical writer Alistair Moffat, author Alexander McCall Smith and artist Andrew Crummy at the launch of the Great Tapestry of Scotland.
The team has constructed a list of 150 key moments in Scotland’s history to create the Great Tapestry.
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Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP with author and project chairman Alexander McCall Smith at the launch of the Great Tapestry of Scotland.
The Great Tapestry of Scotland will illustrate the history of Scotland and will involve hundreds of volunteer stitchers.
It is one of the biggest community arts projects in the world and Holyrood will exhibit the completed record-breaking 141-metre-long embroidered tapestry in August 2013.
The brainchild of esteemed Scottish writer Alexander McCall Smith, artist Andrew Crummy and historical writer Alistair Moffat, the team has constructed a list of 150 key moments in Scotland’s history.
Spanning the splintering ice dome over Ben Lomond to the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, the panels depict Scotland’s amazing history, science, culture, industry and politics over the centuries.
Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP said: “I am honoured to have been asked to sew the first stitch in a tapestry that is destined to become part of our Scottish cultural heritage.
"It will be made all the more powerful by the hundreds of volunteer stitchers from communities across Scotland who will bring the tapestry to life.
“The Scottish Parliament will be the first venue to exhibit The Great Scottish Tapestry in its record-breaking entirety when we welcome it back to Holyrood as part of our Festival of Politics in August 2013.”
Writer and project chairman Alexander McCall Smith said: “In the Parliament today there begins one of the biggest and most beautiful community arts projects ever.
"The Parliament represents Scotland and that is exactly what this tapestry will do too.
“I am particularly pleased that the Presiding Officer has agreed to stitch the first stitch. In doing this she is showing the way for the many hundreds of volunteers up and down Scotland who will, over the next year or so, be recording the history of our country with needle and thread.”
Media Launch
Media are invited to attend the media launch of the Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP sewing the first stitch in The Great Tapestry of Scotland with author Alexander McCall Smith on Friday 23 March at 10am in room P1.02 at The Scottish Parliament.
Background
- It is believed that when The Great Tapestry of Scotland is complete at 141 metres long it will be the longest embroidered tapestry in the world.
- The Keiskamma Tapestry in South Africa is 120 metres long.
- The Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry is 104 metres long.
- The Bayeux Tapestry is 70 metres long.
- The Apocalypse Tapestry, which depicts scenes from the Book of Revelation, was 140 metres long but only 100 metres survives today.
Contact information
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