The new purpose-built Great Tapestry of Scotland gallery, visitor centre, cafe and workshop space has been revealed in its permanent home in Galashiels ahead of its public opening on 26 August
The latest addition to Scotland’s national cultural scene was unveiled as world-renowned author Alexander McCall Smith, whose vision it was to create a tapestry telling the history of Scotland, carefully positioned the 160th and final tapestry panel in place with chief stitcher Dorie Wilkie.
Those who would like the opportunity to be among the first to enjoy this compelling new visitor experience, telling the people’s story of Scotland, are now being urged to book ahead and travel responsibly.
The brainchild of Alexander McCall Smith and designed by artist Andrew Crummy, the Great Tapestry of Scotland is one of the world’s largest community arts projects. Hand-stitched by a team of 1,000 stitchers from across Scotland led by Dorie Wilkie, over 300 miles of wool was used in creating the 160 linen panels (enough to lay the entire length of Scotland from the border with England to the tip of Shetland). The design of the panels is based on a narrative written by Scottish Borders-based award-winning writer and historian Alistair Moffat.
Alexander McCall Smith
“The opening of this wonderful gallery marks the end of a long period of hard work by all of those who have created this astonishing tapestry and its permanent home. But it also marks the beginning of the public life of one of the great artistic creations of our time.”
Economic and regeneration benefits
The visitor centre, designed by architects Page\Park and built by contractors Ogilvie Construction, is a critical town centre regeneration project which has received investment from the Scottish Government through its Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, the Borders Railway Blueprint programme and ourselves. It will help to regenerate the once thriving textile town of Galashiels and deliver an economic boost across the Scottish Borders and south of Scotland at a vital time following the devastating impact of Covid-19. There is evidence that it is already supporting the local economy and generating significant interest from future visitors from around the globe. It will also provide a range of social and educational benefits.
The Great Tapestry of Scotland and the regeneration programme in Galashiels is just one of many interventions and investments in the Scottish Borders supported and funded by ourselves. Through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal and the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal the area has unprecedented opportunities to drive inclusive growth through a wide variety of projects and programmes.
The regeneration of Galashiels has the support of the Scottish Government through the Borders Railway Blueprint programme, as well as community groups such as Energise Galashiels Trust and Galashiels Community Council.
Councillor Mark Rowley, Executive Member for Economic Regeneration and Finance
“The Great Tapestry of Scotland truly is a national asset and we are exceptionally proud to be able to open this phenomenal gallery to house it in the Scottish Borders. I have absolutely no doubt that this will draw in visitors from far and wide and will be an incredibly important development for this region.
“The addition of new world class museums and galleries like The Great Tapestry of Scotland, the Trimontium museum and the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum add to our impressive array of visitor attractions across the beautiful Scottish Borders.
“Alongside Scotland’s Year of Stories in 2022 and the Scott 250 celebrations to mark the anniversary of Sir Walter Scott, our region’s incredible visitor assets, including our landscape, will provide a springboard for economic recovery post Covid-19, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and supporting local businesses and the creation of new jobs.
“Having exhibitions and events of such national historical and cultural significance based in the south of Scotland is an extremely positive development and will deliver wider benefits to the local economy and place the area firmly on the map.”
Fantastic day out
Sandy Maxwell-Forbes, Centre Director for The Great Tapestry of Scotland
“We are absolutely delighted to be opening the doors of our new purpose built visitor centre, with its stunning architectural ceiling sculptured to reflect the town’s Victorian roofscape, on Thursday 26 August. This presents an exciting opportunity to support the economy, create local jobs and enhance the cultural and educational opportunities in the south of Scotland. And it offers a fantastic day out for locals and visitors alike.
“We have already received significant interest from tour operators around the globe and we’re frequently contacted by some of the 350,000 people who have already seen the Great Tapestry of Scotland, who want to know when they can visit us again. They tell us that just viewing the Tapestry is such a powerfully enriching experience that they want to visit time and time again. We look forward to welcoming them alongside many others who will be seeing it for the first time in our new permanent home in Galashiels, just a short distance from Edinburgh and Newcastle.
“As we encourage people to book ahead and travel responsibility to enjoy our exciting new visitor experience, we are also recommending they visit some of the other amazing local experiences, events and businesses in the area. This wonderful new building really does provide a fantastic opportunity to highlight all that is great about Galashiels, the Scottish Borders and the south of Scotland.”
Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth MSP
“It is fantastic that the new world-class Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor experience, which has been designed to support regeneration and wellbeing, is opening in Galashiels.
“The Scottish Government has been a strong supporter of The Great Tapestry of Scotland from its inception, and the creation of the new visitor centre is part of a wider economic and social regeneration across the south of Scotland.
“Just three miles from Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, it is incredibly fitting that this is where Scotland’s story will begin for many people visiting the area, and its opening is an inspiring moment as we look forward to the celebration of the Year of Stories in 2022.”
Tourism leading Scotland's economic recovery
VisitScotland Chief Executive Malcolm Roughead
“The opening of The Great Tapestry of Scotland later this month is a fantastic addition to the region’s tourism offering. This unique and exciting new story-telling attraction will celebrate the history of our country and, as we look towards the Year of Stories 2022, will play a significant role in supporting Scotland’s economic recovery, helping to grow the region’s tourism offering, creating new jobs and attracting visitors to the south of Scotland.
“Tourism is a force for good – creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing the wellbeing of everyone who experiences it. With the right support, tourism and events can lead the economic recovery and boost inward investment where it is needed most. We will continue to work with, and support, businesses to ensure we rebuild this vital part of Scotland’s economy.”
Support for wider regeneration projects
In addition to the funding to develop The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels, a further £1.18m of connected funding from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund was secured for the town. This has enabled Scottish Borders Council and community groups such as Energise Galashiels and Galashiels Community Council to take forward a number of regeneration projects, such as the new Galashiels town trail which includes a sculpture dedicated to local sweet seller Robert Coltart who wrote the world-famous children’s lullaby Coulter’s Candy (Ali Bali Bee).
Iconic Scotland exhibition to feature on opening
As well as permanently displaying the Great Tapestry of Scotland itself, the facility will be home to a workshop space - where visitors can meet the makers, a café showcasing Scotland’s larder, a shop and Gallery 1420, which will host a series of visiting exhibitions.
Gallery 1420’s opening exhibit is Iconic Scotland, which features written and photographic contributions from 40 iconic, inspiring and pioneering individuals including rugby legend Doddie Weir, Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Grant O’Rourke, Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison, human rights champion and academic Sir Geoff Palmer, actress Joanna Lumley, the first British and Scottish champion in WWE history Drew McIntyre and Sir Walter Scott. In 2021/22, the attraction is also partnering in Abbotsford’s Scott 250 celebrations.
The Great Tapestry of Scotland is operated by the charity Live Borders, which manages many of the cultural and leisure facilities in the Scottish Borders, including the five-star Jim Clark Motorsport Museum and the Heart of Hawick entertainment venue.
To help deliver a safe visitor experience, those planning on visiting are advised to book ahead. If spaces are still available on the day, tickets can also be purchased at the door.
Reaction to opening of The Great Tapestry of Scotland
Robert Ramsay, Contract Manager at Albatross Travel, a leading wholesaler for coach tour operators in the UK
“We’ve already included The Great Tapestry of Scotland as a recommended itinerary in our 2022 brochure for tour operators. Through its wonderful visual account of Scotland’s history, heritage and culture, the new national gallery and visitor centre fits perfectly with the Year of Scotland’s Stories. And with so many panels telling the stories other great visitor attractions in the south of Scotland, it is also perfectly suited to connect these sites in one itinerary. Our recommended itinerary also takes in Thirlestane Castle, Abbotsford House, Rosslyn Chapel and the colourful Dawyck Botanical Gardens.
“This is the first time that we have included a stop in the centre of Galashiels in any of our itineraries. It is an exciting addition to the south of Scotland cultural scene and is definitely going to be great for putting the town on the Scottish tourism map.”
Craig Murray, owner of the Artisan Bakery Alex Dalgetty & Sons
“Businesses like ours are already beginning to see the great benefits The Great Tapestry of Scotland will bring to the town, as we’ve supplied lunches to construction workers throughout the construction period. Our Scotch Pies and homemade soups have sold particularly well since they’ve been working on site.”
"When it opens, we will offer visitors a wide range of delicious artisan bakery goods - from our Famous Original Selkirk Bannocks and handmade Oatcakes to freshly baked scones and melt in the mouth shortbread. We have recently introduced a new product, our Gala Biscuits, in anticipation of the Tapestry’s opening. The biscuits are based on the flavours used to make Coulters Candy, and they have already become one of my top sellers!”
Adam Elder, Director of Why Not?, two mini shopping centres, meeting places and cafés in North Berwick and Galashiels
“The high street truly is part of the fabric of every town and vital to the health and wellbeing of every community, so we were absolutely delighted when we heard The Great Tapestry of Scotland, a new national gallery, would be located right here on Gala’s high street. As one of the world’s largest community arts projects, housed in a new creative hub telling the rich stories of Scotland and the Borders, it really does speak to the great community traditions of the town. It’s going to be fantastic for the area and further supporting regeneration. We look forward to its opening and welcoming all those who visit.”
Naomi Harrod, owner of Unwind Yarns
“Having the tapestry here is something every business owner I've spoken to is looking forward to! It looks amazing, and really will breathe more life into the town.”
“Unwind Yarns was born in Galashiels, but the majority of my sales come from tourists and visitors to the town, so I am incredibly excited about the visitors the Tapestry will bring. It will be great for the amazing independent shops we already have here in the town and for further regeneration of our high street.”
“I regularly have customers in who are visiting Galashiels for the first time on a day out that walk around, looking for something more to do. I can't wait to tell them they can visit The Great Tapestry of Scotland, right here on our high street…and I’m really looking forward to visiting myself!”
The Great Tapestry of Scotland has also already resulted in the opening of businesses in the Scottish Borders, including Susie Finlayson Embroidery in Hawick. Susie was not an embroider and did not intend to stitch the Tapestry when she got involved in the creation of the original Tapestry, but she quickly realised thanks to the Tapestry, that it was something she really enjoyed, and was very good at. So she decided to set up her own business delivering workshops across the country, and has since been leading a group of stitchers to create five welcome panels for the centre.
Susie Finlayson
“I learned so much about embroidery and myself working on The Great Tapestry of Scotland. It really is a national treasure and is going to be so good for the Borders’ economy, particularly shining a spotlight on the Borders being at the heart of the luxury textile industry.”
About The Great Tapestry of Scotland
One of the world’s longest tapestries, hand stitched by a team of 1,000 stitchers led by Dorie Wilkie, The Great Tapestry of Scotland tells the visual story of Scotland’s history, heritage and culture from its formation to present day.
It was the vision of one of the world’s most prolific and best loved authors Alexander McCall-Smith and was designed by artist Andrew Crummy and teams of stitchers around Scotland from a narrative written by the award-winning writer and historian Alistair Moffat.
It is a unique project to stitch the entire story of Scotland from pre-history to modern times and through its wonderful artistry and visual storytelling, it makes Scotland’s history, heritage and culture accessible to all.