MEDIA RELEASE

Sherborne sees visitor surge when Dorset Moon comes to Town!

Tens of thousands of people were introduced to the beautiful Dorset town of Sherborne when Luke Jerram's Museum of the Moon, an astounding seven metre diameter spherical sculpture on which each centimetre represents five kilometres of the moon surface, was installed in historic Sherborne Abbey over the first weekend of July.

Images of the installation were flashed around the world as far as China where it featured in the Peoples' Daily with a reach of 2.3 million people and also on America's CNN which again is seen by millions of viewers. Nationally it was featured in several of the UK broadsheets as well as on regional TV and radio.

Sherborne Abbey reported nearly 18,000 visitors across the weekend of 5 - 7 July - tripling the expected figures.  Although Dorset Moon was the main attraction, once inside many had their heads turned by the beautiful late medieval fan-vaulted roof and the overwhelming sense of history in this ancient Wessex abbey that is the last resting place of King Alfred the Great's brothers, Ethelbald and Ethelbert.

Shops in Sherborne's Cheap Street reported increased spend across the weekend and a Competition for Schools, organised by Discover Sherborne, was a big success with many shop fronts displaying the children's entries showing models of the moon landings and related topics.

Councillor Bill Taylor, who has the tourism brief for the town, commented, "A huge thank you must go to those who made all this possible including Dorset's Arts Development Company and the Dorset Festivals Consortium.

"It has been fantastic to see the collaboration amongst all the different groups in Sherborne, with everyone working together to make this event so successful. This approach is clearly the way forward and this successful initiative demonstrates how tourism can really be used as a positive force to help Sherborne continue to prosper in the years ahead."

Kate Wood of Activate Dorset said ‘Sherborne Abbey and all of the community were an absolute delight to work with. All our partners, for example the Paddock Project and Sherborne Artslink, really got behind us to help bring Dorset Moon to the town, and we are so pleased as a partnership to have reached so many people with this incredible artistic event.'

Dorset Moon was presented by three Dorset Festivals - Bournemouth Arts by the Sea, Inside Out Dorset and b-Side,  and funded by the Arts Council England and the European Regional Development Fund.

For high res images and press contacts: Jane Adkins, A Head for PR, T/: 01935 913114 E/: jane@aheadforpr.co.uk   www.aheadforpr.co.uk 

Contact Sherborne Tourist Information Centre for details on Sherborne attractions: sherborne.tic@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk  or visit www.discoversherborne.com 

July 2019 (Sherborne17)