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We hear from one of the world鈥檚 last remaining globemakers and reflect on the globe鈥檚 cultural and symbolic currency.

While Google Earth may give us intricate detail of every inch of land, there鈥檚 nothing like clutching a globe to properly comprehend our place in the world. We鈥檝e been fascinated by replicating our planet since ancient times; an art and science that鈥檚 developed as our understanding has evolved.

In this programme, we step into the studio of Bellerby & Co Globemakers, one of the few companies remaining that are making globes by hand today. From their Stoke Newington warehouse, we follow the journey of a globe from design to dispatch. We hear about the challenges they face daily, from retraining their hands to querying geopolitical protocol, and the customers who鈥檝e commissioned their unique bespoke worlds.

Alongside this creative process, we visit installation artist Luke Jerram, who is touring his replica earth artwork, Gaia. We also hear from writer and cartography enthusiast Simon Garfield and globe conservator Sylvia Sumira to explore the rich history of globemaking as well as some bigger ideas around the influence of those who represent our planet to us. The globe is crucially illustrative of our shared experience. Do we need its symbol today more than ever?

Produced in Cardiff by Amelia Parker

Photo by kind permission of Bellerby & Co Globemakers (credit: Sebastian Boettcher)
Gaia soundtrack courtesy of Luke Jerram and Dan Jones