Our collaborative working approach which includes many partners from different disciplines means that we often have several projects running simultaneously. Two of our current projects are featured on this page, the refurbishment of the Drill Hall to provide a centre for learning within the Quarry Park and our flagship project for the Olympics to create a musical instrument from Portland stone for a new compositions and performance by world renowned percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.

The Drill Hall

The Drill Hall is ideally located within a half mile radius of 11 contrasting quarry environments. It will provide a centre for learning about the geology, ecology, industrial, social and cultural history of Portland. The refurbishment will ensure that the infrastructure and facilities are updated to provide a comfortable and suitable learning environment for everyone who visits. We will be welcoming groups from a wide range of backgrounds to use our extensive archive and educational material to bring a wider understanding of the quarry environments. We welcome enquiries from anyone who would like to help to fund this project or use the facility once the work has been completed.

Cultural Olympiad – PSQT Stone Lithophone

PSQT is leading a project to build a unique stone lithophone for percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie to play in a performance to celebrate the opening of the Olympic sailing events in 2012.

The stone Lithophone, built on site from stones that ring, will explore the distinctive range of tones, harmonics and sustained reverberation found in the geological structures of the different quarries on Portland. In quarries from Pietra Santa to Tamil Nadu the stones are traditionally rung to check the purity of the block. This also gives possibilities for a purposeful international dimension to this project, for example an international archive of stone ringing.

The stone has remarkable acoustic and light reflecting properties.
Connections developed through the arts to geology, industry, heritage and environment, will provide sustainable educational materials for cross-disciplinary learning with local schools and the Portland Academy.

Have a look at our film, made during the developmental stages of the project at the bottom of the homepage.