Summer Solstice celebrations return to Crawick Multiverse
The longest day of the year will be celebrated with a weeklong programme of events at the vast land art installation
The Crawick Multiverse in Dumfries & Galloway is set to welcome visitors to celebrate Summer Solstice this June. The weeklong calendar of events will run from the 18th to the 24th of June, in partnership with The Open University.
Attendees will have the chance to watch the sun rise and reach its 'tilt point' from the land art installation, with the chance to learn more from experts in space science.
The Crawick Multiverse, a former open-cast coal mine turned land art installation designed by the late Charles Jencks is located near Sanquhar. The installation features artistic land representations of colliding galaxies, with physical features inspired by the sun, stars and other elements of outer space.
Derek Goldman, Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager at The Open University in Scotland said: "We are delighted to be co-hosting the Solstice Week celebrations at Crawick this year. The Multiverse is a stunning and unique site which brings together the wonders of art and science."
Returning for the second year, the event is set to be 'bigger and better' than last year.
With tours, interactive talks, and storytelling all taking place on site, events will run into the evening, when there will be seminars held in Sanquhar Town Hall from Open University Professors including space science specialists Monica Grady CBE, Stephen Peake and Mahesh Anand. Involving those from the surrounding area, the event will offer local schools and community groups the chance to attend tours and workshops delivered by the Open University, supported by Developing the Young Workforce Dumfries and Galloway.
Trustee of The Crawick Multiverse Trust Cathy Agnew said: "We are delighted to be co-hosting the whole community programme with The Open University in Scotland and to be working closely with local schools, businesses and venues to ensure the wider community are very much part of the celebrations."
This years longest day falls on the 21st of June, with the solstice beginning with an early morning Sunrise Ceremony, led by Open University professor of religious studies, Graham Harvey and professional storyteller, Gordon MacLellan. Visitors on the day of the solstice will also witness a late afternoon 'Tilt Ceremony' to mark the moment when the sun is at maximum tilt.