Great Tapestry of Scotland returns to Parliament

The historic piece of art returns to the Parliament building for its 15th anniversary. Picture: Neil Hanna

The embroidered tapestry depicts 12,000 years of Scottish history and is the longest of its kind in the world, measuring in at a mammoth 143 metres upon its 2013 completion. Now it’s set to get a little bit bigger as part of the Parliament building’s 15th anniversary celebrations with a new “People’s Panel” set to be added.

Designed by Andrew Crummy it took 1,000 volunteers stitching for 50,000 hours to create the initial piece of art, and now everyone is welcomed to contribute in the new chapter regardless of experience with experts on hand to guide novices through the process. Those selected will be done so purely on a first come-first serve basis at selected times between July 1 and September 13.

It is the second time the Great Tapestry of Scotland will be on display in the main hall of the Scottish Parliament building after it was first unveiled in September of last year. Following the initial showcase it was taken on a tour around the country so Scots outside of the capital could appreciate the intricate 160 panels.

“When the Tapestry last came to the Parliament a few panels had yet to be completed,” admitted Alexander McCall Smith, the author and visionary behind the project. “Now that work is done and we see it in its full glory, displayed for the people of Scotland and visitors to Scotland, in the building that is at the very heart of Scotland’s public life.

“I am particularly pleased that those who missed it in Edinburgh last year will now have the chance to see this extraordinarily beautiful work of art.”