Dumfries bracing itself for the arrival of a giant Storm

A giant Storm is coming to Dumfries tomorrow.

The 10 metre-tall figure will rise at the Whitesands in Dumfries to tour the town, engaging with many community groups along the way who have been invited to voice their concerns on climate change by performing on the streets.

Free for the public to view, Scotland’s largest puppet, which is called Storm, is part of Dumfries and Galloway Art Festival’s response to COP26 and is warning that the oceans are in crisis.

Made from entirely recycled and natural resources, and weighing around 500 kilos, her eyes are the colour of oyster shells, her hair thick strands of kelp and her voice the chorus of the waves.

She is accompanied wherever she travels by a beautiful soundscape created by the pioneering Scottish folk singer, Mairi Campbell.

As part of the day, Dumfries and Galloway Council will share their new seven stage strategy to environmental sustainability by 2030 with Storm’s visit also expected to start an ongoing dialogue for carbon reduction methods across the region.

Lou Davies, general manager of the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, said: “After the success of Big Man Walking 11 years ago – an event that is still talked about to this day – we hope that Storm will bring audiences back into the town after a long, hard period of isolation to celebrate together as a community.

“We have lots of exciting events planned throughout her journey including performances from three artists who we’ve commissioned with the kind support of the DGU Together Again fund.”

Funded by EventScotland through Scotland’s Events Recovery Fund, Storm’s visit to Dumfries will also be supported by Creative Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Unlimited, ANCBC, Barfill Trust, Turtleton Trust, the Together Again fund, the People’s Project, The Station Hotel, The Rotary Dumfries, Plaswood and The Crichton Trust.

Full details of the route are on the DG Arts Festival website.