23 March 2023
Visitors to Reading Town Hall will get a unique opportunity to view planet Earth as it appears from space when the world famous Gaia globe comes to town, thanks to a partnership involving the University of Reading.
Luke Jerram's replica artwork of planet Earth – which has visited Singapore, Australia and a host of European cities – comes to Reading from Saturday 10 June to Sunday 18 June.
The seven-metre diameter installation is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth. A specially made surround sound composition by BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones will be played alongside the striking sculpture, giving visitors a complete immersive and thought-provoking experience.
Visitors will be able to experience Gaia during public opening hours but booking is essential at whatsonreading.com/gaia and supplemented by interactive events taking place in the Concert Hall alongside the giant illuminated globe.
Gaia is a visual representation of the fragility and beauty of the Earth. The piece is coming to the town as a call to action for Reading in taking steps to make our town Net Zero by 2030. Alongside the installation visitors will be offered the opportunity to sign up to ‘small changes with big impact’ pledges and become part of a community of ‘game changers’ to help protect our planet. Details of how to sign up will be available on readingcan.org.uk/pledge
The installation forms part of Reading Climate Festival. It aims to inspire people to think about climate action and will be accompanied by an exciting public engagement programme, where the artwork will provide a jaw-dropping backdrop to a full schedule of events including family activities, inspiring talks, concerts and even a gong bath yoga session. The evolving schedule of events can be found and booked here whatsonreading.com/gaia
Reading Climate Festival runs from Saturday 10 June to Wednesday 21 June, with in-person and online events and activities planned across Reading, to inspire and encourage positive action on climate change, supporting Reading’s commitment to being a Net Zero, climate resilient town by 2030. The full schedule of the Climate Festival events can be found at readingcan.org.uk/festival where new events will continue to be added over the coming months.
Gaia has been brought to the town by Reading Borough Council, Reading Climate Change Partnership (RCCP), Reading Business Improvement District (part of REDA) and University of Reading, who were joined at the launch event at Reading Town Hall today by the Reading Buses’ climate stripes gas-powered bus and University of Reading’s Professor Ed Hawkins – creator of the climate warming stripes.
Professor Ed Hawkins, climate scientist from the University of Reading, said: "With excess heat building up across the planet at a rate unprecedented in the history of humanity, we hope this artwork will inspire people to think about what we can all do to help protect the future of the planet.
"Since 2018, the warming stripes have helped to start many conversations about climate change and with Gaia arriving as part of the Climate Festival this June, the Reading community certainly won't be short of inspiration."
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