Dundee folk are ‘responding positively’ to 2023 culture bid

ART: City praised at symposium attended by creatives from across the continent

Dundee residents have shown great pride in the bid to become European Capital of Culture 2023, according to one of the people spearheading the campaign.

Stewart Murdoch, director of Leisure and Culture Dundee and one of the managers leading the bid, sang out the city’s praises during a European art symposium hosted at Dundee University.

Movers and shakers from across the continent descended on the city yesterday to network, discuss public art, and hear of the transformation of a onceproud industrial unit turned artistic centrepiece – West Ward Works.

Local and national artists also attended the event, some of whom have already submitted “some very exciting work” as part of their bids for the city’s arts 2023 programme which will be unveiled in the near future, according to bid director Brian Beattie.

Moderated by Beth Bate, director at Dundee Contemporary Arts, the meeting combined audience discussion with specialist presentations by the visiting IN SITU delegation of artists and administrators.

Mr Murdoch said: “Events like the symposium would not be happening if it were not for the European Capital of Culture 2023 bid, but is the sort of event we would like to see happen in the city.

“We have delegates from the Austrian city of Graz, who are our partners through the UNESCO designation and of course were awarded the Capital of Culture title in 2003.

“Working with our friends from Graz has been a great help. The representatives have been here to talk about their journey they have been on since being awarded the title.

“Having so many artists from across Europe is also of great benefit and part of the bid process, and it is great to have the support of our partners too.

“People in Dundee are continuing to respond very positively to our bid for Capital of Culture 2023, which is great.”

Bid director Brian Beattie said people from all parts of Dundee are involved in the campaign, which will be handed in to judges on October 28.

European art network IN SITU are a continental collective of artists and designers who advocate, commission and promote public art.

Dundee’s campaign for Capital of Culture 2023 kicked off in July, with The Courier playing its part by asking hundreds of readers from all walks of life to explain what Europe means to them.

Picture: Gareth Jennings. Symposium attendees, from left: Werner Schrempf of La Strada Festival in Austria, Beth Bate from DCA, Neil Butler of UZ Arts Scotland, and Anna Day and Stewart Murdoch of Dundee 2023.