Hexham Abbey has announced a six-week programme of events to accompany a renowned exhibition which will take place there this autumn.
Luke Jerram's internationally acclaimed Gaia installation features a large, detailed sculpture of the earth which will be suspended at the heart of the abbey from its bell tower.
Throughout October and November, the illuminated earth will be the centrepiece of an ambitious programme of concerts, talks, exhibitions, family and community events designed to inspire, entertain and provoke reflection.
In addition to tickets to see Gaia itself each day, events include candlelight concert tributes to Pink Floyd, Coldplay, and 80s anthems, while there will be a spellbinding organ performance of Hans Zimmer’s famous score for the film Interstellar. Music lovers will also relish major classical works, including Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man and Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.
A gala dinner will welcome polar explorer Conrad Dickinson, who will share his extraordinary tales of endurance and discovery following an international feast served beneath Gaia’s glowing presence. Families and schools are equally catered for, with special educational days, cosmic explorations, and accessible science sessions, from indigenous teachings led by Professor Graham Harvey to stargazing and astrophysics for children with The Average Scientist.
Meanwhile, creative spirits will discover thought-provoking exhibitions with Wil Cheung’s Gaia Photography Exhibition, the community-crafted Cloth of Hopes and Dreams, and Now & Forever, a collaborative project with Northumberland National Park exploring humanity’s relationship with nature. For those seeking peace and reflection, yoga, meditation and contemplative worship beneath the Earth promise a rare kind of stillness.
Founded in AD 674 by St Wilfrid, Hexham Abbey is one of Britain’s most historic and beloved places of worship. Its Anglo-Saxon crypt, medieval architecture and vibrant role as a living centre of community provide a fitting backdrop for Gaia — a meeting point of Earth and spirit, past and present.
Measuring six metres in diameter, Gaia showcases high-resolution NASA imagery of our planet as seen from space. Slowly revolving and accompanied by a surround-sound composition by BAFTA-winner Dan Jones, it invites visitors to experience the celebrated “overview effect” — the profound sense of awe and unity astronauts describe when viewing Earth from orbit.
Rev’d Canon David Glover, Rector of Hexham, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Gaia to Hexham Abbey and, after months of planning, hugely excited to finally share this rich programme of events. Now that tickets have been released for the programme, they are selling extremely quickly and visitors are urged to book now. From a gala dinner to music, lectures, family and school events and more, there truly is something for everyone. We can’t wait to see the Abbey and the town alive with the inspiration and wonder Gaia will bring.”
Building on the phenomenal success of autumn 2023, when another of Luke Jerram’s works, Museum of the Moon, attracted more than 30,000 visitors to Hexham Abbey and the Tyne Valley, Gaia offers a broader, global perspective while retaining the same power to move audiences of all ages.
Artist Luke Jerram said: “I am delighted to return in 2025 with Gaia. After the incredible response to Museum of the Moon, I hope this new installation will become another unforgettable cultural landmark for the region. There is something profoundly moving about bringing our planet into sacred, historic spaces like this.”
Gaia at Hexham Abbey runs daily from October 3 to November 16. Entry is £4 for adults and £1 for children. Tickets for the gala dinner and all other events are available now at www.hexhamabbey.org.uk/gaia
Pictured above: What the Gaia installation will look like at Hexham Abbey. Credit: Elowen Media