Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Sneak peek at what’s in store in city’s V&A
DUNDONIANS will get a sneak peek at what’s on offer at the V&A Dundee as part of a series of talks.
Last night marked the first of several open events for residents to learn more about what the museum will bring to the city ahead of its opening in September.
Peter Nurick, communities producer, gave members of the public a run-down of the museum’s features, which include a cafe, restaurant and artists’ studio.
Some of the museum’s permanent exhibits, and the first temporary exhibition, Ocean Liners: Speed and Style, were also previewed.
The key theme behind the talk, entitled “V&A Dundee: Is It For Me?” was to get locals on board with the idea of Scotland’s first ever dedicated design museum.
An informal poll conducted before and after the talk found that those who had been unsure about the idea had been won over.
Mr Nurick said: “We all believe V&A Dundee is a tourism driver.
“But also, from my point of view, V&A Dundee is a new community resource – and we really hope it is embraced by the city.”
The inaugural talk at the Frigate Unicorn was part of Dundee Design Month with V&A Dundee officials visiting venues throughout the city to share more about some of the exhibits and features of the Waterfront landmark.
Further events are planned tonight at the Lochee Community Hub, on Monday at Little Theatre on Victoria Road and Menzieshill Community Centre, as well as on Wednesday May 16 at Douglas & Mid Craigie Church.
Outreach programmes conducted by V&A Dundee have reached more than 100,000 people in Scotland.
East End councillor Will Dawson hopes residents in his ward will take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the impact of the museum to people living in Dundee.
He said: “I think the V&A staff have done a really excellent job of hosting these kind of events in the past and it’s good they’ll be bringing something to Douglas & Mid Craigie Church in my own ward.
“It’s also good they’re hosting events away from the city centre so it brings people closer to the V&A.
“The building is there to be inclusive. It might stand there as the V&A Museum of Design but it’s about much more than that because of the cafes and all the different features that come along with it.
“Dundee Design Month seems to be getting bigger but that whole design aspect and joining that up with the V&A is maybe something that a lot of ordinary Dundonians aren’t aware of.
“So as far as I’m concerned it can only be a good thing to give people a chance to have more of an understanding about what’s going on.”