The project is inviting residents to take part in sharing their memories of the canals.

The Canal Listening project, spearheaded by artist Andrew J Brooks and Scottish Canals, aims to create a community sound-map which presents the social, cultural and ecological life of the Forth & Clyde and Union canals.

Locals are invited to play a central role in developing the project’s artworks, working alongside Brooks to collect recordings, shape a cultural representation of Falkirk’s waterways, and develop sound installations and public presentations that present their individual experiences of the canals and Falkirk.

Visitors can get an insight of the art project through two immersive installations, Dawning and Tunnel, hosted in the Visitor Centre at The Falkirk Wheel from 3 July to 6 July.

Tunnel takes visitors on a journey through the Falkirk High Tunnel. Recorded using ambient microphones, contact microphones and hydrophones, the work captures the tunnel’s  acoustic environment. 

Brooks said: “I am eager to begin working with the communities around the canal. The sounds of the environment where we live hold so much cultural significance for us and can help us understand about ourselves and the world we share with our communities, both human and non-human. The canals are a rich cultural and ecological setting to develop this research and make artwork with the local communities.”

Ross McMillan, head of destinations at Scottish Canals added: “We’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Link project which re-opened and reconnected our Lowland canals. This is such a timely moment to invite the community to share their stories and reflections about their canals. The immersive experience, which is running next month is just the start, and we look forward to hearing many more stories and recordings inspired by the project in the coming years.”

The Canal Listening project’s immersive installations are open and free for public entry at The Falkirk Wheel from 3 July to 6 July in the Blueprint Room, near the Visitor Centre entrance.