Over 15,000 paper doves created by visitors with messages of peace will be suspended in Durham Cathedral this summer.

Peace Doves, a mass-participation artwork by Peter Walker, is set to take centre stage in the Nave of the cathedral from 25 July. It will be made up of thousands of individually handmade paper doves which will be suspended above the Cathedral’s historic Nave.

The artwork will be set to music by composer David Harper making it an even more atmospheric experience. However before that date each of the 15,000 paper doves will need to be created by visitors to Durham Cathedral.

Andrew Usher, Chief Officer: Visitor Experience and Enterprise at Durham Cathedral, says,“We’re delighted to be showcasing the Peace Doves installation this summer and we’re aware that it will take a long time to handcraft the amount of doves needed. So we’re now asking for the help of visitors, schools and local communities and inviting everyone to come and create one of the 15,000 doves that make up this meaningful installation. As a mass-participation artwork it’s a unique opportunity for people to be involved in creating something truly special.”

From Easter Monday, 1 April visitors, groups and local communities are invited to head to Durham Cathedral and create a dove for the installation. People will be given a paper dove on which they will be encouraged to write a message of peace, love, friendship or hope.