Whale of a Weekend Festival Celebrates Scotland's Maritime Heritage

Strategic Insights -

The Whale of a Weekend festival is a three-day event celebrating Scotland's connection to the island of South Georgia. Organized by the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) in partnership with Discovery Point, V&A Dundee, and Dundee City Council, the festival brings together art, history, and conservation. Visitors can enjoy a range of free activities, including art workshops, talks, and drop-in sessions, as well as bookable events and exhibitions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The festival will feature the unveiling of a new sculpture, Commensalis, by Scottish artist Michael Visocchi, which will be temporarily displayed on the Dundee Waterfront before being transported to South Georgia.
  • The Whalers' Memory Bank, a living digital time capsule, will be unveiled by historian Dan Snow, revealing Scotland's untold whaling history and the stories of generations of whalers who left Scottish shores.
  • The festival will also include interactive arts and storytelling, puppet-making workshops, dance performances, and free screenings of the documentary Endurance, along with meetings with world-leading scientists and conservationists from the Natural History Museum and British Antarctic Survey.
  • The South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) has been working with former Scottish whaling communities to create the Whalers' Memory Bank, a testament to Scotland's strong ties to the island of South Georgia.
  • The festival would not have been possible without generous support from various trusts, including the Alexander Moncur Trust, The Northwood Charitable Trust, and Binks Trust.

Statistics:

  • The festival will run from Saturday, June 27, to Monday, June 29.
  • 16:30 on Saturday, June 27, will see the unveiling of the Commensalis sculpture on the Dundee Waterfront.
  • The Whalers' Memory Bank will be unveiled by historian Dan Snow on Friday, June 27 at 11am at Discovery Point.
  • The full programme of events, including bookable events and drop-in sessions, can be found on the SGHT website.

Sources:

  • South Georgia Heritage Trust
  • Discovery Point
  • V&A Dundee
  • Dundee City Council
  • The National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • The Alexander Moncur Trust
  • The Northwood Charitable Trust
  • Binks Trust
  • Tay Charitable Trust
  • Aberbrothock Skea Trust
  • R J Larg Family Trust
  • Anderson Images
  • Outdoor Display System
  • MBP