Ten of the leading ladies behind The Great Tapestry of Scotland shared their story to help people across the globe through the Covid-19 crisis.

Together the ten ladies successfully coordinated the completion of the Great Tapestry of Scotland (which tells Scotland’s story from 8500BC to present day) by building a strong community bond in person, and remotely, with 1000s of stitchers in every corner of Scotland – from the mainland to the remotest isles. It is believed to be one of the world’s largest coordinated community art projects. A number of women played a pivotal role in the Tapestry’s production, but this core team brought all the panels together in one place and carefully constructed them for display. The experience has given them important learnings and a unique skillset, which could help to keep other communities together during periods of social distancing and isolation.

The work of art that they helped to bring together will now be celebrated for generations to come in the town of Galashiels in one of the UK’s leading textile regions, the Scottish Borders, when a new permanent purpose built £6.7 million Great Tapestry of Scotland Centre opens in 2021. The new centre and exhibition space, operated by the charity Live Borders and funded by the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Scottish Borders Council, will be where Scotland’s story begins for tens of thousands of visitors.