Gaia at Blackburn Cathedral
Internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram's Gaia will be on display at Blackburn Cathedral from 6th October until 16th November.
Here's all you need to know about visiting Gaia at Blackburn Cathedral. Learn about all the different events taking place around the installation of this world famous artwork.
Gaia will be on display at Blackburn Cathedral from 6th October - 16th November.
Throughout the exhibition there is no charge for daytime entry to the Cathedral, although a suggested donation of £5 per person is encouraged which will go towards the cost of hosting the event and the upkeep of Blackburn Cathedral, helping us stage more events like this and keeping our doors open for all.
Due to large numbers of visitors, if you plan to bring a group of 10+ people to view Gaia, please contact us in advance to ensure that we have the capacity to facilitate your visit.
Gaia daytime viewing
The Cathedral will be open from 8.30am until 4.30pm on most days throughout the installation (some entry restrictions may apply on certain days). There is no charge for daytime entry and we look forward to welcoming you to Blackburn Cathedral.
Visit Gaia during the day
Gaia evening viewing
For a truly magical experience, book to visit in the evening when the artwork truly comes into its own. The Cathedral will remain open late on selected evenings to provide an unique opportunity to enjoy the glow of Gaia after dark.
Book Gaia evening viewing tickets
Gaia events calendar
See the full calendar of diverse events that are taking place under Gaia at Blackburn Cathedral this October and November and join in this once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of something truly unique.
See the Gaia events calendar
Photography competition
Blackburn Cathedral is holding a nationwide Photography Competition and the theme is 'Life on Earth'.
The winners and shortlisted entries will be on display in a special exhibition at Blackburn Cathedral held throughout the installation of Gaia.
Gaia school visits
We welcome thousands of school children to Blackburn Cathedral each year and we would be delighted for schools to come and visit Gaia during October and November.
Due to capacity limitations, there are restrictions in place and all school visits must be booked and confirmed in advance.
Please note that visitor restrictions may apply on certain days. For details of temporary closures or alterations to our standard pattern of opening and service times, please see the Gaia daily schedule which will be published once the artwork is installed .
About Gaia
Gaia is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface*. The artwork provides the opportunity to see our planet on this scale, floating in three-dimensions.
The installation creates a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.
The artwork is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 18km of the Earth’s surface. By standing 211m away from the artwork, the public will be able to see the Earth as it appears from the moon.
A specially made surround sound composition by BAFTA award winning Composer Dan Jones is played alongside the sculpture.
In Greek Mythology Gaia is the personification of the Earth.
Gaia has been created in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council, Bluedot and the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres.
* The imagery for the artwork has been compiled from Visible Earth series, NASA.
Luke Jerram’s multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts projects. Living in the UK but working internationally since 1997, Jerram has created a number of extraordinary art projects which have excited and inspired people around the globe. Jerram has a set of different narratives that make up his practice which are developing in parallel with one another. He is known worldwide for his large scale public artworks.
