Last call to be part of peace doves exhibition

Peace dove exhibitions have been created at various venues across the UK

Some 12,000 paper doves have been created so far for an upcoming exhibition at Durham Cathedral.

The mass participation artwork, Peace Doves, where members of the public are invited to make their own, will go on display on 25 July.

The doves also contain personal messages and people have until 20 July to add to the work by visiting the cathedral.

Sculptor Peter Walker said organisers were aiming to have 15,000 paper doves for the installation, and they will be suspended from ribbon above the cathedral’s Nave.

The first exhibition started in 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, and the concept has toured to various venues since.

Staff at Durham Cathedral said "profound" messages had been left

Mr Walker said staff saw messages that were "really personal", but also "quite a lot of messages about things that are going on around the world at the moment, and things that are out of our control".

He added: "In Durham where there is such a rich history for art, and where so many beautiful things happen in the city, I think this will be another one that will captivates people."

The doves take "a few minutes to make", staff said

Mr Walker was tight-lipped about how exactly the exhibition would be installed, but noted it would take a few days to put together before it was hoisted up to the ceiling.

He said speaking about the process behind the artwork "takes away the magic".

"It's all about creating contemporary art that fits within the space, and so people experience something about our lives today in a space that was built hundreds of years ago," he said.