The much-anticipated earth sculpture, Gaia has arrived in Kirkby and tickets are now available to book online.
Today, Friday 28 January, Luke Jerram’s 6-metre-wide replica of the earth was officially launched at St. Chad’s Church and will be on display for the next three weeks – until Thursday 17 February.
Forming part of Knowsley’s programme for its year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture 2022, Gaia is a touring artwork that aims to demonstrate the fragility of the planet. The artwork was created from detailed NASA imagery of the earth’s surface and provides a unique opportunity to view our planet, floating in three dimensions and revolving slowly.
Its creator Luke Jerram says: “I hope visitors to Gaia get to see the earth as if from space; an incredibly beautiful and precious place. An ecosystem we urgently need to look after – our only home.”
In addition to being visually dramatic, Gaia is also accompanied by a surround sound composition by BAFTA award winning composer Dan Jones.
Open daily, more than 15,000 time slots have been released to ensure as many people in the community as possible can experience this world-renowned artwork for themselves.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said: “We know that Gaia has proved incredibly popular in the other locations it has toured and people really have not wanted to miss out on seeing it in their local area. We have allocated time entry ticketing which will not only help to control the safe flow of people through the church but will also ensure people are guaranteed entry and have enough time to appreciate the artwork and whole experience.
“We have an amazing programme of events taking place whilst Gaia is at St. Chads and on occasion this means that the space will not be open to the public, so we want to ensure that people don’t just turn up at the Church and are disappointed if they are not able to get in. Ultimately, we want as many people as possible to enjoy this experience, so don’t wait, book your FREE tickets now.”
All information regarding Gaia – including a link to book tickets – is now available on www.cultureknowsley.co.uk/gaia/
Anyone without access to the internet but would like to book a ticket can call 0151 443 5353.
Further details about the accompanying events programme will be announced soon.
Borough of Culture
The Borough of Culture title was introduced by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. It is awarded annually on a rotational basis to one of the six local authorities that make up the Liverpool City Region.
The Borough of Culture is part of the 1% for Culture initiative which commits at least 1% of the Liverpool City Region’s annual gain share (£300k) to cultural projects/activities. Established as an annual award rotating around the boroughs, the Borough of Culture helps to celebrate, amplify and strengthen the existing cultural offer, develop new ideas and initiatives that will underpin future development and legacy.
Liverpool City Region is the first Combined Authority to have control over culture in its devolution deal, utilising many of the region’s existing assets and talent to stimulate cultural and creative opportunities.
The Borough of Culture was first launched in St Helens in 2018, followed by Wirral 2019, Sefton 2020, Halton in 2021 and is currently held by Knowsley for 2022. The programme rotation will recommence in 2023 back in St Helens.
