Scottish Diaspora Tapestry: The Stories of Scots Abroad

Published

22nd April 2021

The staff at Scotland’s Jute Museum @ Verdant Works are looking forward to reopening soon. To celebrate being reopening Verdant Works will bring the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry to Dundee in the special exhibition Scottish Diaspora Tapestry: The Stories of Scots Abroad.

The tapestry is a result of a project to involve communities around the world in celebration of Scottish heritage and culture, the people and places which connect Scotland to its global diaspora. These stories where illustrated by the artist Andrew Crummy (designer of The Great Tapestry of Scotland) who created the outline for these linen panels which the communities themselves embroidered in their own techniques and colours.

The special exhibition will showcase these panels in two parts, the first will showcase the Americas, Canada and Europe whilst the second will showcase the UK, Africa, Australasia and Asia. The impressive Tapestry will be displayed in the equally striking 1833 High Mill Gallery @ Verdant Works. This 3-storey height space reveals the monumental scale of mill architecture and will be a perfect temporary home for such a fantastic exhibition.

To help support the tapestry Verdant Works are looking for volunteers to assist in supervising the exhibition and welcoming visitors. This is an excellent opportunity to spend time with this world travelled tapestry and share the stories told within it with our visitors. As part of the experience all volunteers will be given a full introduction to duties is provided and support from either our front of house and curatorial staff is available at all times. Staff at Verdant Works are hoping people will wish to sign up to the full run of the exhibition and volunteering can be flexible to fit around the volunteer.

As Verdant Works reopens after lockdown the team are ensuring that the venue is covid secure and is a safe place for all its staff and volunteers. This will mean that our staff, volunteers and visitors will be able to enjoy the experience in a safe and reassuring setting. In 2020 Verdant Works was awarded “Good to Go” from Visit Scotland, confirming that they are a Covid secure venue and will continue to go beyond these standards.

If you are interested in helping with this project, or would like more information, please contact Mel Ruth Oakley at collections@dundeeheritage.co.uk.

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