Tapestry with embroidered QR codes to be created by Scots around the world

Scots: The tapestry will help bring together the Scottish diaspora.

A tapestry containing embroidered QR codes is to be created by Scots around the world.

Communities around the globe where Scots have settled with each create a section of the tapestry.

Each piece will include a QR code, which can be scanned by smartphones and will load a specific website. The sites will contain information about the history of what is depicted on the tapestry, the embroiderers involved and the communities they come from.

The project, funded by Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government, was launched on Thursday.

At least 25 communities from North America, Australia, Europe and Africa will take part and pair up with communities in Scotland.

The panels will be brought together as part of Homecoming 2014.

Yvonne Murphy, one of the co-ordinators, said: "We're especially excited by the educational potential of this project. We hope that schools will take the opportunity to research local links to the Diaspora, perhaps following the history of particular local families who emigrated.

"Our experience of the Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry is that this combination of heritage and creativity is a real winner and sparks enormous enthusiasm among participants. The huge number of people that have come to see the Battle Tapestry is also testament to its popularity among audiences. From a tourism perspective, we're sure that this project will generate many thousands of additional visitors to Scotland, and provide a lasting legacy well beyond 2014."

The tapestry was inspired by Billy Kay’s book The Scottish World and Mr Kay is supporting the project.

He said: "I have had the great good fortune to record the voices and the stories of people from the diaspora - the descendants of generals in Sweden, merchants in Poland, sugar workers in Hawaii, wine growers in Portugal, and missionaries in Africa. What they all had in common was knowledge of their family history and pride in their Scottish roots.

"Now there is going to be a stunning artistic depiction of the amazing contribution the Scots have made on every continent, and I for one can't wait to see the visual glory of the final tapestry."

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