Gigantic sculpture bringing spectacular view of Earth to Coventry Cathedral - how to book tickets

An impressive installation depicting the Earth in all its stunning detail is coming to Coventry this November.

Gaia, a touring artwork by Luke Jerram, will arrive at Coventry Cathedral on Friday, November 13.

It will only be in the city for two days - leaving at the end of Saturday, November 14 - and will form a key part of this year's Coventry Peace Festival as well as helping to commemorate the city's 80th Blitz anniversary.

The installation - which is free to see but you will need a ticket for entry - gives people the chance to see the Earth in its true three-dimensional scale.

The artwork itself is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth, with each centimetre describing 18km of the Earth's surface.

If you were to stand 211m away, you would be able to see the Earth as it appears from the moon.

Lord Mayor of Coventry, Cllr Ann Lucas, said:"The Blitz is synonymous with Coventry and it's only right that on the 80 anniversary of it we reflect on how it has shaped our city. 

"This wonderfully moving event will be a fitting way to mark this anniversary. I hope that by encouraging people to really think about the Blitz and how it led Coventry to become the city of peace and reconciliation that it is today, we can inspire a new generation to carry this message of peace with them.

"I encourage people to get a ticket to this thought-provoking event and to join us in honouring those who lost their lives on that fateful night."

Both during and after the event, residents are encouraged to share their reflections on the Blitz with both the Council and BBC Coventry and Warwickshire by using #Blitz80.

As part of the project, the Council has partnered with BBC CWR with the aim of encouraging people to share their own messages of peace by using the #Blitz80 to mark this key anniversary in Coventry's history.

Luke Jerram added: " Coventry Cathedral has such an incredible history, it's wonderful to present my artwork in its grounds. I hope the artwork provides the public with an opportunity to discuss the changes we need to make in society to safeguard the future of our society and planet. The pandemic has been so devastating for many people, but at the same time has shown us that as a society we can pivot quickly to change our behaviour. By working together anything is possible."

Eagle eyed readers may recognise that this isn't the first time Jerram's work has come to Coventry. Back in 2017, he brought a spectacular lunar installation to Coventry, which saw a sculpture of the moon suspended from the ceiling of Coventry Cathedral and the Fairfax street sports and leisure centre.

So if you enjoyed that, or missed out, Gaia promises a similar experience, with the aim of creating 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 Very Reverend John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry, added: "We are delighted to have Gaia here in Coventry for this significant anniversary. This beautiful installation will help us recover a true perspective on our wonderful, shared, global home, and to understand afresh our responsibility to care for one another and our planet – the true practice of peace and reconciliation for our times."

How to book tickets

Coventry City Council have said the event is free of charge but booking a ticket is essential so they can monitor numbers to ensure the event complies with the social distancing guidelines.

Visitors are also reminded that, while they're in the Cathedral ruins, they must strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines, only visit and mix with members of their own household and ensure adherence to the rule of maximum of six in a group.

Visitors may also wish to wear a face covering as an extra precaution.

Tickets give you a 30-minute slot at a set time for you to view the artwork with a maximum of six tickets per person, with children under 16 accompanied by an adult.

If people cannot access the ticket website, a very limited number of tickets will be made available on the day or night for each time slot for those unable to book tickets on the website and these are available on a first-come first-served basis.

In addition, ticket-holders are requested to arrive within their allocated 30-minute slot although they do not need to be there for the start of their slot and can stay as long or little with the sculpture unless the venue becomes too crowded in which case visitors will be asked to leave at the end of their booked time slot to allow the next timed group in.

People are also requested to note there will be no toilet facilities within the ruins during performances.

Gaia is created in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Bluedot and the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres. With supporting partners Culture Liverpool and Liverpool Cathedral.

You can book tickets from Monday November 2 on Eventbrite, and the link will be available here: www.coventry.gov.uk/gaia