NEWS: Dorset Moon to land in three unique locations this summer!

DORSET MOON

Friday 28 – Sunday 30 June, War Memorial, Central Gardens, Bournemouth
Friday 5 – Sunday 7 June, Sherborne Abbey
Friday 12 – Sunday 14 July, Nothe Fort, Weymouth Free
www.dorsetmoon.com

Fifty years on from the first moon landing, three Dorset arts festivals join forces to present DORSET MOON, an exciting new addition to the summer season.

At its heart is installation artist Luke Jerram’s internationally acclaimed Museum of the Moon. Appearing in Dorset for the first time, this monumental moon sculpture seven-metres in diameter created using high-definition NASA imagery of the moon’s surface has to be seen to be believed.

Each centimetre of its surface represents five kilometres of actual moonscape. Internally-lit, this incredible piece is a mesmerising fusion of lunar visuals, moonlight and surround sound audio created by Ivor Novello Award and BAFTA-winning composer Dan Jones.

Several Jerram moons are in circulation around the world, but for its two-week Dorset visit it will land in three unique locations that perfectly encapsulate the county’s distinctive blend of coastal, rural and urban.

In each location Museum of the Moon is supported by a programme of events beneath it curated by Inside Out Dorset (produced by Activate), Arts by the Sea and b-side festivals. The full bill has yet to be finalised, but will include newly commissioned dance, a silent disco, choirs and yoga under the moon.

“I am delighted that we will be bringing Luke Jerram’s incredible work to Dorset for the first time and creating a series of extraordinary events in extraordinary places with colleagues from across Dorset,” says Kate Wood, Executive Director of Activate.

“The Arts by the Sea festival is really excited to be hosting what will be a magical experience with Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon and a range of other events in Bournemouth’s beautiful Central Gardens. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for visitors to follow the moon across the county and see it in a variety of amazing Dorset locations,”adds Andrea Francis, Festival Director of Arts by the Sea.

For as long as mankind has looked to the skies the moon has captivated us. Now, half a century after we first walked on it, the moon lands in Dorset for the first time to illuminate three unique locations with experiences that are out of this world.

LOCATIONS AND DATES

Friday 28 – Sunday 30 June Central Gardens, Bournemouth
The Upper, Central and Lower Gardens have all been Green Flag winners since 1999 and run from Bournemouth Pier to the boundary with Poole. The gardens are 3km long. They are all part of the Bourne Valley Greenway and are Listed Grade II in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens. DORSET MOON will be in Central Gardens, near the War Memorial.

Friday 5 July – Sunday 7 July Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne
Founded by St Aldhelm in AD705, the Abbey has developed from Saxon cathedral to the worshipping heart of a monastic community, and finally, to one of the most beautiful of England’s parish churches. For many it is still the ‘Cathedral of Dorset’ and its Benedictine heritage lives on in the daily offering of prayer and praise.

Friday 12 July – Sunday 14 July Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Nothe Fort is now one of Weymouth’s major attractions and a venue for a wide range of public events. You don’t have to be a military enthusiast to enjoy your visit. It’s a great day out for all the family with lots to see and explore. This weekend also sees the Nyetimber Dorset Seafood Festival return to this picturesque harbour town.

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