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Boat tour of Floating Ballast Seed Garden with Dr Lucy Donkin, Department of Historical Studies, University of Bristol.

Explore how people have taken handfuls of earth that have symbolic meaning and transported them from one geographical location to another. Thus allowing exiles to stay close to their homeland, believers to own a part of sacred sites, and rulers to claim dominion over far-flung territories.

Lucy’s published research focuses on the perception and decoration of holy ground in the Middle Ages; she is also interested in practices concerning the portability of place that continue until the present day.

This event has been part funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through the AHRC Cultural Engagement Fund pilot scheme, working with Arnolfini Research Associate Catherine Hunt, University of Bristol.  Catherine has put together a programme of events which engage with themes arising from the Floating Ballast Seed Garden, especially migration, the movement of plants, seeds and soil, and the trading history of Bristol and its legacy. 

Tour leaves from Arnolfini. Booking required via Arnolfini box office.

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