Tapestry Exhibition Venues: 2012 & Beyond

Plans are already being laid for 2012 and beyond, as widescale touring and associated fund raising for the Tapestry's permanent home in Prestonpans continue apace.  Thus far the 2012 plans involve Cockenzie House* 11th/ 19th February; a second visit to Paxton House* from March 21st/ April 18th; Pornichet/ St Nazaire* in France from whence the Prince sailed in 1745 from April 29th/ May 6th; a much expected return to St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh in July/ August; to British Columbia, Canada for September including an appearance in Victoria and at Chemainus for the 8th Global Murals Conference; and home in Scotland, Glasgow to be precise, by Christmas 2012.

[* only these venues/ dates are firm] 

N.B. Venues interested in displaying the Tapestry are very much invited to be in touch with Tour Director Arran Johnston - email: ajohnston@battleofprestonpans1745.org   This invitation particularly includes centres in the Scottish Diaspora around the globe, to which the Trust is ambitious to bring the Tapestry in the next few years.

2011: Scotland & Across the Border

The schedule of major public exhibitions in 2011 included the Scottish StoryTelling Centre at Netherbow Port, Edinburgh, February 12th/ 19th; a Spring visit to Paxton House April 1st/ 27th - excepting 9th/ 10th - finally bringing the Tapestry to the Borders; Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery from May 7th/ June 5th; St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, from June 11th/ August 31st  - specifically targeting school groups throughout June and throughout July/ August with special activities during the Edinburgh Fringe and a visit by Culture Chair from Bayeux; St Mary's  Church in Haddington 10th/ 15th September; the Knitting & Stitching Show @ Alexandra Palace London October 6th/ 9th and also @ the International Exhibition Centre Harrogate November 24th/ 27th; and finally, a return to its home in Prestonpans for a week prior to Christmas.  

2010: Prestonpans Tapestry's 'Launch' Parade

July 23rd / September 26th 2010 - across the Highlands & East Coast

The finished Tapestry was paraded along the routes the Prince and Sir John Cope took in 1745

The schedule is given below but if you LINK HERE you will go to the full anlaysis of reactions along the route as more than 10,000 Visitors came to the venues over the 27 days.

Detailed reports from each venue are available at the LINK here above [scroll to end of text] , or directly by scrolling down the 'News & Reports' to be found at the button on the left here.

      * Following the above nationwide 'Launch Parade' The Prestonpans Tapestry returned to the artist's Cockenzie Studio for maintenance and minor repairs. Three specialist showings were then arranged for the balance of 2010 - The Dovecote in Edinburgh [November 10th/ 25th & 30th/ December 11th]]; Cockenzie Power Station [November 27th/ 28th]; and a private Holyrood Lobby showing for MSPs and Parliamentary staff at the Scottish Parliament December 14th/18th..

      Requests for the Tapestry to be shown at other locations are always welcome, and more dates are

     currently under discussion. See below for 'general design' but feel welcome to propose alternatives if  

     you have/ know a venue you believe could display the Tapestry!

1. At selected locations where local stitchers can put the Trust in touch with local 'interested parties' local mini-re-enactments [LMRs] will be given and media attention sought for the contribution of local stitchers. Any local community group able and keen to host such an LMR should inform Arran Johnston as soon as possible @ ajohnston@battleofprestonpans1745.org
2. As well as such LMRs, an Exhibition of the completed Tapestry will be given with an introductory talk. N.B. Such Exhibitions can be given with or without an accompanying LMR. Such Exhibitions require ample space for display - see below for details of how the 104 metres will be presented.

                                                                                    *******

1. The Exhibition is intended as an occasion with a modest Entrance Fee and/ or a 'Membership' donation to the Trust's Charity. It will tell the whole story of the Tapestry and particularise any local panel[s]. The Tapestry will be hung for viewing howsoever. All LMRs will have an associated Exhibition but other localities can have the Exhibition without need of an LMR.
2. Putting up/ taking down the Tapestry is simplicity itself, achievable in modest sized halls. To enable this the Tapestry will be stitched together as 21 x 5 metre widths - less a wee bit [total length overall of 104 metres]. The 5 metre lengths are easily transported and hung.
   The Tapestry is Velcro taped at the top and bottom of its backing cloth and this Velcro attaches to Velcro-receptive exhibition panels that are each a metre wide. Since both the backs and fronts of each exhibition panel can be used, some 52 x 1 metre exhibition boards will be assembled. These can either run up and down the Exhibition space or in a zig zag pattern. They have sturdy legs.
   
3. The 'Official' Prestonpans Tapestry Guide is published as a paperback/ cloth covered book. It is a 275pp full colour Guide including all panels shown with the story behind each of them, plus details and pictures of the stitchers themselves. The soft back version of the Guide has a RRP of Sterling 20/ cloth Sterling 30 + any necessary postage and packaging. [Available at the Online Boutique button on left of this page.]
4. A CD from Greentrax with traditional Songs & Music from the Campaign to Prestonpans is also available for sale and well as a DVD Stitches for Charlie - both Sterling 12 each + p&p. [Available at the Online Boutique button.]
5. The Final Home for The Prestonpans Tapestry is to be the Battle's 'Living History Centre' in Prestonpans. Funding for this has not yet been achieved, but an Appeal is now ongoing. By admiring the beautifully embroidered scenes in the Tapestry, the lessons of Youthful Hope and Ambition exemplified by the Prince's Campaign and Victory at Prestonpans in 1745 will become ever better known and better understood. The Trustees themselves have just such Hope and Ambition that the Scottish nation's Living History Centre will soon be achieved in Prestonpans.
6. Educational Resources echoing the Scottish history curriculum for use by school groups and by youngsters visiting the exhibitions with parents are already available on line [see button to left here] and additions will continually be made.