Work is under way to create to create a coronavirus community memorial in Dumfries and Galloway.
The council and DG Unlimited, as well as greenspace Scotland, have commissioned artists ts Beall and Katie Anderson to bring the public, community groups and workers together through a series of workshops and events to honour those that lost their lives to Covid-19.
They will include a Tree of Remembrance sculpture, creative workshops and remote activities for people who can’t take part in person.
And the culmination will come in December with the creation of a concept for a covid community memorial.
A new phase of the project will then begin in January and see the memorial come to reality.
Communities working with the artists will decide what the memorial will be and ideas could include commemorative gardens, physical memorials, public or digital artworks, live theatre or music performance events or community events in parks, greenspaces or other types of public space.
The project is part of the Scottish Government’s Remembering Together scheme.
Archie Dryburgh, chairman of the council’s communities committee, said: “It is right and proper that Dumfries and Galloway is taking part in this national programme.
“It’s a chance for local people to get involved in helping our region to commemorate those who lost their lives or experienced loss as a result of the pandemic and to celebrate how communities and individuals across our region reached out to support people in need during such difficult times.”
The chairman of DG Unlimited, Stephen Lacey, said: “We are delighted that artists TS Beall and Katie Anderson have been awarded the commission for this part of the project.
“They are both highly experienced in working with communities and we look forward to seeing the creative concept for a Covid memorial for Dumfries and Galloway at the end of this important phase.”
