V&A’S millionth visitor arrives inside two years

Milestone figure smashed as museum raises city’s international profile

V&A Dundee welcomed its millionth visitor yesterday – fewer than 18 months after it first opened.

Seven-year-old Nalani Becker from Berlin arrived at the museum at 11.04am with her father Jan, while her mother was working at Dundee University.

The museum opened in September 2018 and recent independent research suggested it has had a £75 million economic impact across Scotland in its first year.

Philip Long, director of V&A Dundee, said: “I am thrilled that today we have welcomed our one millionth visitor, just over 500 days after opening the doors of Scotland’s first design museum.

“We have a hugely exciting year ahead, with the last chance to see our Uk-exclusive exhibition Hello, Robot this weekend and our first major fashion exhibition, Mary Quant, opening in April.

Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said: “This is another tremendous achievement for V&A Dundee and the city.

“It has raised Dundee’s international profile and played a key part in securing record-breaking tourism figures. V&A Dundee is helping to create jobs and new economic opportunities for the city.”

Technology fan Nalani was surprised with a gift bag including Hello, Robot exhibition tickets, afternoon tea in the museum’s restaurant and a voucher for £100 to spend in the museum shop.

Hello, Robot will be followed by V&A Dundee’s first major fashion exhibition, Mary Quant, from April 4 and Night Fever: Designing Club Culture from October 31, another Uk-first exhibition.

Picture: Kris Miller. Jan Becker and daughter Nalani, 7, who was the museum’s millionth visitor, receive a gift bag from Philip Long, director of V&A Dundee, to celebrate the landmark.