Dundee awarded Unesco City of Design status
Dundee has joined the ranks of Beijing, Berlin, Montréal and Santa Fe picking up Unesco City of Design status.
The accolade is the first to be made in the UK and recognises Dundee’s contribution to design worldwide.
Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for culture, Europe and external affairs, said: “Warm congratulations must go to everyone who has played a part in bringing this prestigious Unesco City of Design accolade to Dundee, and indeed Scotland. This is a richly deserved accolade and further strengthens the city's growing reputation as a hub of cultural and creative excellence and an international centre for the creative industries.
“Indeed, the Scottish Government has been delighted to award £15m to the V&A Dundee project, which will create local jobs and contribute significantly to the regeneration of Dundee and its Waterfront, giving the city a world-class design museum and visitor attraction.”
The title recognises design innovations the city has contributed including aspirin, biomedical research, comics including The Beano and The Dandy, orange marmalade, and video games including Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto.
Councillor Ken Guild, leader of the administration, Dundee City Council, said the award was “truly international recognition for Dundee's innovative design sector”. He added that the accolade would no doubt boost the city’s profile and that he was “looking forward to seeing how we use this status to help take the city forward for the future”.
Currently Dundee is rebuilding its Waterfront as part of a £1bn, 30-year masterplan to design an open, inclusive city of the future. At the heart of the Waterfront plan is the creation of V&A Museum of Design Dundee.
In addition Dundee is home to Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee Rep Theatre, McManus Art Gallery, Wasps Studios and boasts two universities, Abertay University and the University of Dundee.
Twelve cities - Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Graz, Kobe, Montréal, Nagoya,Saint-Étienne, Santa Fe, Seoul, Shanghai and Shenzhen - hold Unesco City of Design status.