The Bar Convent in York is continuing its tradition of creating a meaningful, community- spirited display for the Christmas period. 

This year, the convent has partnered with New Visuality, an award-winning charity based in York that seeks to advance the arts, culture and heritage.

With the outbreak of war in Ukraine, and countries still at war around the world, they will be creating a display of doves – the universal symbol of peace and love – and are appealing to the public to contribute by making their own origami doves.

Sister Ann Stafford, superior at the Bar Convent, said: “The world is in need of prayer, especially for peace. Ukraine has been suffering since February and there are other countries at war also. This is not what God wants for our world.

“God sent the Angel Gabriel to ask a young girl called Mary to be the mother of a baby who would redeem the world. That is what we celebrate at Christmas – the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Here the angels came to the shepherds and announced this special news. The message to the shepherds was one of peace on Earth.

“This is why, this year, our Christmas theme will be the dove, an enduring and universal symbol of peace and love.

“We would like to create a meaningful display of origami doves to show our solidarity and support to those countries at war and encourage prayers for peace.

“We are asking for help to create the display, and would love for schools, community groups, parishes and individuals to be a part of it by contributing their own origami doves.”

New Visuality co-director Greg McGee said: “This is an opportunity for people to not only get creative but to see their creativity exhibited in a world-class space. 

“We will display all the doves inside Bar Convent, we’ll get professional artists to provide neon designs to hang alongside, we’ll capture footage that will be projected as illuminations at a later date, and everyone who gets involved will be able to say, years from now, they were exhibiting artists at a game-changing art exhibition.” 

Co-director Ails McGee added: “It’s a perfect moment for inclusivity. For too long, people have seen heritage as something you have to hurt your neck to look up to.
“This allows the young artists to take ownership of one of the city’s most exciting venues and visit with friends and family and know that they’re a part of it.”

Instructions and an accompanying video is available on the Bar Convent website, bar-convent.org.uk.

Send or drop off your doves by 5pm on Monday November 21. The display will begin on Tuesday November 29.