Gaia at Truro Cathedral
Truro Cathedral welcomes Luke Jerram’s spectacular touring artwork, Gaia, from 6-28 October 2023.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface* and will be suspended above the cathedral Crossing, providing the opportunity to see the planet on this scale, floating in three dimensions. A specially made surround-sound composition by BAFTA award winning Composer Dan Jones will be played alongside the sculpture.
In addition to the chance for visitors to experience Gaia during general visiting hours, there will also be a range of events and activities accompanying the installation for people to enjoy.
*The imagery for the artwork has been compiled from Visible Earth series, NASA.
General Visiting
When can I visit Gaia?
Everyone is welcome to come and see Gaia at Truro Cathedral.
General visiting hours are, for the most part, Monday-Saturday 10:00-17:00 and Sundays 11:30-15:30. However please check specific opening hours for the day you intend to visit on our events page – some days have non-standard visiting times due to other events and activities taking place.
There is no need to book to see Gaia during general visiting times. Please be advised that a queuing system will be in place during peak times.
Check Gaia General Visiting Times
How much will it cost to see Gaia?
There will be no charge for entry to see Gaia at Truro Cathedral during General Visiting hours, with donations of £5/adult encouraged.
Your donation enables the cathedral to bring events such as Gaia to the community of Cornwall as well as care for the historic building.
Relaxed Viewing Sessions
There will be three relaxed viewing sessions whilst Gaia is in situ, taking take place on Tuesdays from 15:00-16:00. These sessions are designed to be neurodiversity-friendly and offer a more accessible and enjoyable viewing experience. During these times, the permitted number of visitors will be reduced, the soundtrack accompanying Gaia will be played at a lower volume, and visitors will be asked, where possible, to keep noise levels low.
There is no ticketing for Relaxed Viewing Sessions, however, please be aware some queuing may be required due to the reduced capacity.
More about Relaxed Viewing Sessions
Gaia By Night
Gaia is something to behold at any time of day, but perhaps at night, the effect of its illumination is particularly impressive. Gaia By Night offers you the chance to experience Gaia in the cathedral after hours.
These 1-hour ticketed sessions will be popular, so please book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Tickets may be available on the door if any spare slots for a session remain, however, this cannot be guaranteed.
Tickets are £6.50 per person (free for under 11s), with all funds raised directly supporting the care and upkeep of Truro Cathedral.
Booking Now Open
Celestial Heights Tours
Enjoy the opportunity to see Gaia from a truly unique perspective by taking a Celestial Heights Tour.
You’ll access usually hidden parts of the cathedral as you ascend the small stone spiral staircase then walk through the cathedral roof space before arriving at the High-Level Gallery, where you can gaze down upon Gaia. The perfect viewing spot to appreciate the Northern Hemisphere! Tickets for tours running during General Visiting times are £12.50 per person. Tickets for tours running on Gaia By Night events are £19.00 – this includes both your Celestial Heights Tour (£12.50) and your Gaia By Night admission (£6.50). All funds raised will directly support the care and upkeep of Truro Cathedral.
Booking Now Open
More about Celestial Heights Tours
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question about Gaia? Whether it’s related to General Visiting, Relaxed Viewing Sessions, Gaia By Night or Celestial Heights Tours, find the answer in our dedicated Gaia FAQ document.
Get a flavour of Gaia and reactions to it in this short video filmed during its installation at the University of Bristol.
Banner image credit: Gaia at Liverpool Cathedral for Liverpool City Council’s River Festival, 2019. Photo by Gareth Jones
Video credit: Gaia official film by Cinematica Media 2021
