LorrAine’S V&A oPeninG TAy
TV presenter is among the first visitors as museum opens
Craig McDonald It was the day Dundee has been eagerly awaiting for more than a decade...
And celebrities mixed with thousands of Dundonians as the new £ 80.1million V&A Museum of Design opened its doors to the public yesterday.
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and Hollywood actor Brian Cox helped celebrate the museum’s opening.
Cox would be a contender for Greatest Living Dundonian while Kel ly has championed her adopted city for decades.
But just as important to the V& A were the thousands of people from across the city and the visitors from around the UK and beyond.
All will be able to say “I was there” on day one – the Saturday morning when the city began a cultural rebirth.
Cox, who flew in from working in Spain to be one of 3000 visitors through the doors, said: “As a Dundonian, it’s quite an emotional experience to be here. I have seen this city through thick and thin
– and I love
what has been created here. It is fantastic. It’s a brilliantly designed and a quite beautiful building.
“I love the views over the water – that’s quite central to the whole experience.
“I was born here, went to school here and had my first theatre roles here. So, to return and see what’s happening now is fantastic. It has transformed the city.
“It will attract tourists and industry. It’s the beginning of a paradigm shift for Dundee and will really put the city on the map.”
Kelly said: “Just look at this place – it’s absolutely amazing.
“This used to be an unattractive part of the city and look at it now. It feels astonishing that the V& A is finally here. I know a lot of work has gone into it. “This is not just for an elite, it’s for everyone from the city and beyond.”
She added: “I have been banging on about Dundee for years so it seems maybe people are now catching up with me.
“I’m a Glaswegian but have lived here for many years and it’s great that people are now shouting about Dundee for all the right reasons.”
Among the V& A’s first visitors were three teenagers mentored by a charity who work with local schoolchildren.
Shannon Balfour, 17, of Dundee’s Morgan Academy, said: “It’s an awesome place. When I first walked in, I was totally amazed by how interesting and beautiful it is.
“I’ve watched it being built and now that it’s open, I think it will inspire young people here. I like visiting museums but this is really special.”
Scott Regan, 17, of St Paul’s Academy in the city, said: “It is a real honour and a privilege to be asked to be first in and I really appreciate it.
“It’s a day I will always remember. It’s difficult to take it all in straight away. There’s so much to see and experience.
“I know it will bring a lot of people to the area. That’s important, too.” Jamie O’Neill, 13, of Morgan Academy, said: “This is going to be the biggest thing ever for Dundee. As soon as you step inside it feels like a very welcoming place. “You can come here and have a look around but there is also something very relaxing about it. I feel very lucky to be the first in today.”
Jenny Paterson, chief executive of charity Breakthrough, who provide care and mentoring to secondary school children in the city, said: “Being involved in V& A’s opening day is an incredible opportunity for our youngsters.
“Many of the young people we work with are much less likely to have ve the same opportunities as their peers. Being invited to participate in the biggest cultural event that Scotland has seen for many years in their home city of Dundee will live in their memories forever.”
The V& A features galleries, , open spaces, educational facilities, bars, cafes and terraces.
The free-entry Scottish Design Galleries feature 300 exhibits from Scotland which tell the story of our design and its international influence.
There are also collections from around the world. Exhibits include dresses designed by the likes of Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood.
There’s also an innovative Racerback Speedo swimsuit, which caused shockwaves when it was first unveiled in the 1920s, pink Pringle ski-wear and a design featuring a twist on traditional Harris Tweed.
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh oak room has also been conserved, restored and reconstructed to form a centrepiece of the museum. The pay-in Ocean Liners: Speed and Style exhibition, organised by V&A London, showcases the world ’ s greatest
liners and features itemsms from the Titanic. V&A Dundee also has two stunning terraces, which were bathedhed in sunshine yesterday. They have stunningi viewsi – east to theh TTay RRoad d Bridge and west to the Rail Bridge and HMS Discovery.
The museum, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, is the centrepiece of a £1billion development of the city’s waterfront. waterfro SchoolchildrenSch Shannon, Scott and Jamie, and Breakthrough leaderlea Paterson were part of a groupg of eight to be the first visitors.vis It also included architectarc Kengo Kuma, DundeeDun City Council leader John Alexander, the council’s executiveexe director of city developmentdeve Mike Galloway and Philip Long, director of V& A Dundee.
Long said: “I feel enormous pride and excitement at this moment. There have been many years of hard work and now that it is finally open, it’s a fantastic feeling.
“It’s been talked about that the V& A is going to be like a ‘ living room’ for the city.
“It seems like people are already enjoying it and feeling quite comfor table in its wonderful surroundings. It’s fantastic to see people coming into the museum and bringing it alive.”
Alexander said: “It’s an amazing place and I get goosebumps just talking about it. It symbolises a renewed sense of confidence which people locally are feeling.
“The city had maybe lost its way and people were perhaps lacking in a bit of self-belief. I believe that has changed and people are now talking about Dundee not just in the city but around the world. We have had visitors and media here from Australia, Japan, mainland Europe and the US, to name but a few.
“There has been 30 years of d if f icu lt y here fol lowing de-industrialisation, which I know has been experienced not just in Dundee but in locations around Scotland.
“The city is stepping up the plate. This is a phenomenal development for Dundee and for Scotland.”
This is not just for an elite, it’s for everyone from the city and beyond