A magical silent disco is being held at Truro Cathedral to raise money for a good cause. 

The Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust Charity is staging Underworld silent disco on Friday, October 27 at 6.30pm. 

The event will be held under Gaia, the art installation of the world that is visiting the cathedral. Money raised at the event will go toward St Michael’s Hospital, West Cornwall Hospital and Royal Cornwall Hospital. 

The event is being held in conjunction with Quick Panda who will operate the bar, silent disco by DeluXx and Silent Disco Newquay. 

Lynne Lees, from The Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust Charity, said: “Grab your friends, snag your headphones, hit the dance floor and groove all night long under the warm, revolving, incredible gaze of the earth.  

“Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust Charity brings you Underworld, a unique opportunity of a silent disco under Gaia, the stunning, glorious, art installation of the world that’s visiting Truro Cathedral.  

“The ticket purchase will help diagnose and treat patients faster, make families and loved ones more comfortable and provide specialist training.  

“Funds help towards buying advanced equipment, provide better healing environments and support critical research. 

“Help to make a difference to the people of Cornwall. Dance in thanks, dance in memory, dance to give back.” 

Gaia is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface. The artwork provides the opportunity to see our planet on this scale, floating in three dimensions. 

The installation creates a sense of the overview effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment. 

 The Gaia Earth artwork communicates a sense of the fragility of the planet. Halfway through the Earth’s six mass extinction, society needs to quickly make the changes necessary to prevent run away climate change. 

The artwork also acts as a mirror to major events in society. 

Considering the recent covid-19 pandemic, the artwork may provide the viewer with a new perspective of our place on the planet; a sense that societies of the Earth are all interconnected and that we have a responsibility toward one another. After the lockdown, there has been a renewed respect for nature.