The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
New V&A exhibition to mark nightclub scene from around the world
An exclusive exhibition celebrating nightclub culture across the world will mark the reopening of V&A Dundee on May 1.
For those who have missed hitting the dancefloor during lockdown, the opening exhibition Night Fever: Designing Club Culture is a chance to groove through global clubbing culture since the 1960s.
The exhibition was first developed by the Vitra Design Museum and ADAM – Brussels Design Museum and includes films, photography, posters, flyers, and fashion, as well as a light and music installation.
There will be plenty of local interest, however, with V&A Dundee including a new section on Scotland. Legendary nightclubs from across the country will be represented, from Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Paisley.
Director of V&A Leonie Bell is doubly delighted that by the time it opens Scotland-wide travel will be possible, bring visitors back into the city.
“It’s great that we will be able to welcome visitors from across the country again,” she said.
“I think people will come away seeing that Scotland looked to the US and cities like Detroit rather than London in the way they developed.”
One of the clubs featured is The Rhumba Club, which started in February 1991 at Roxanne’s Nightclub in Perth.
Over its 30 years, it has moved around, however, bringing its club night to Fat Sams, Dundee; Citrus Club, Edinburgh; Ballys, Arbroath; and Ice Factory, Perth.
The exhibition has been sponsored by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Laura Chow, Head of
Charities from People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “V&A Dundee has had a huge impact on local communities and Scottish cultural life since well before it opened in 2018, and I’m delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery have supported the museum for seven years.
“This Uk-exclusive exhibition is hugely exciting as we all look forward to brighter times ahead, and it is the perfect time to explore how important design and culture are to our lives and wellbeing.”
A full events programme will be announced soon but
tickets are now on sale now for the exhibition that runs until January 9, 2022.
As part of a safer opening and to ensure physical distancing for V&A Dundee, all visitors now need to book free tickets to enter the main museum. All tickets can be booked at vam.ac.uk/dundee.
Hundreds of people could be left without basic necessities as a Dundee foodbank faces being homeless within weeks.
Taught by Muhammad, which has experienced unprecedented demand during the pandemic, has been desperately trying to find a new home as its current leased premises nears being sold.
With a removal date of March 31, the Dunsinane Avenue charity is appealing for help from the public so it can continue delivering food to people.
It is part of the Yusuf Youth Initiative (YYI),
which runs several other community outreach projects, which are also now in jeopardy.
YYI chief executive Faisal Hussein said the situation is worrying for staff, volunteers and those who need its services. He is appealing for help from businesses or individuals who can offer even a temporary home.
He said: “People will no longer receive our foodbank parcels if we end up with no home. We’re a charity that’s quite strong and we don’t ask for donations. It’s just space that’s the problem. If anyone has a building we can use, please get in touch.”
The warehouse, formerly
a factory owned by clothing brand Levi’s, also housed church groups, small businesses and community groups
Taught by Muhammad sends out 100 parcels a week to people in emergency situations or struggling financially. Since Covid-19 crippled the UK, 6,000 individual parcels have been dropped off at homes in the city. The charity would normally deliver half that number in a year.
Many of these people are referred to them by Dundee City Council. They include those who have lost jobs due to lockdown measures and people in debt.
Mr Hussein said the
charity is filling in where the welfare system fails. He said: “I’m not asking for thousands of pounds, just a building. If there was enough will from the council, a space would be found.”
A spokesman for the council said: “Taught by Muhammad is an important part of the city-wide network of projects providing emergency food to communities.
“The council is in regular contact with the project to discuss property and service delivery requirements to ensure it can continue to contribute to the work co-ordinated by the independent Dundee Food Insecurity Network.”