On 31st August 2001, Sitakumari and dancers from the Dance School of Scotland led just over 100 children and young people in a spectacular show to mark the opening on the same day of the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance being held in Durban, South Africa in that year. All countries had been asked to mark this conference and Heartstone was proud to have been selected to represent the UK for this purpose with a stage performance and photo-exhibition drawn from ‘The Heartstone Odyssey’. The exhibition opened with a statement from Mary Robinson, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Photos show the opening ceremony with Scottish Ministers, UN representatives and Glasgow City Council Members followed by the show centring on the theme of story connecting the world. The natural world was not forgotten in a powerful piece on the coral reef as an intricate and harmonious habitat and its relevance, interconnection and importance to people. The Glasgow Tramway show and exhibition were both powerfully moving and opened the door to numerous events across Scotland and beyond post 2001.
