Verdant Works now open with blockbuster – Scottish Diaspora Tapestry
Dundee Heritage Trust are extremely excited to announce that the multi-award winning Verdant Works has reopened with its summer blockbuster exhibition The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry. After several months of remaining shut the iconic green gates of Verdant Works were reopened by the Edwardian Mill Manager, Mr Forrester and the last working weaver in Dundee Lily as Mr Forrester welcomed the visitors back to the museum.
To celebrate reopening Verdant Works are hosting The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry. ‘The Stories of Scots Abroad’. Coming to Dundee for the very first time, it brings together artists and communities from 34 countries across the globe. This vast tapestry explores the connections Scots have with the rest of the world and will be on show in the stunning High Mill. As the tapestry is so big it is being in shown in two parts, the first will focus on the Americas, Canada and Europe which are on display until the 20th of July whilst the second will open on the 22nd of July and will see the UK, Africa, Australasia and Asia panels take center stage.
Verdant Works are delighted to be able to bring this tapestry to Dundee. The Curator, Mel Ruth Oakley says ”It is wonderful to see people back in the museum. The tapestry is so bright and colourful with so much to see. We are delighted to be able to bring the tapestry to Dundee for the first time and to share the stories of the tapestry and the Mill with Dundee”
Dundee Heritage Trust
Formed in 1985 to preserve and interpret Dundee’s Heritage, Dundee Heritage Trust is an independent registered charity dedicated to the guardianship, preservation and portrayal of Dundee’s Heritage in ways that educate, inspire and enlighten current and future generations.
As well as the internationally significant Royal Research Ship Discovery, Dundee Heritage Trust has responsibility for Discovery Point Antarctic Museum plus Verdant Works, one of the nation’s most important textile museums. Both sites are accredited museums with collections of National Significance, 5 star rated attractions with Visit Scotland and have won numerous awards.
The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry
The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry, which has been showcased worldwide, is made up of over 300 embroidered panels tells the stories of Scotland’s communities across the world. The tapestry is a result of a project to involve communities around the world in celebration of Scottish heritage and culture completed for Homecoming 2014, the people and places which connect Scotland to its global diaspora. This project brought together stories from these communities, documenting their stories and the Scottish Connection within these panels. These stories where illustrated by the artist Andrew Crummy who created the outline for these linen panels which hundreds of stitchers in the communities themselves embroidered in their own techniques and colours. And in return the tapestry complet, all 305 panels, travelled to their communities from 2015/2018 in exhibition ….. By 2027 it is expected to have its own permanent home in Prestonpans but until then it’ll keep travelling … in October/ November it’s off to Ontario in Canada for a selection of 29 Canadian diaspora panels …. and there’s the Caribbean and South America still to visit!
