The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Thousands flock to new V&A Dundee in first week
Attraction: More than 27,000 visit £80.1 million museum on River Tay
More than 27,000 people have visited the new V&A Dundee in its first week.
In total 27,201 people visited the £80.1 million museum between 10am on Saturday 15 and 5pm on Friday 21 September.
The first V&A museum anywhere in the world outside London, the building designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma on the banks of the River Tay is the centrepiece
“I’d like to thank everybody who has helped us celebrate”
of an ongoing £1 billion regeneration of Dundee’s waterfront.
On the eve of the museum’s official opening 10,000 people gathered to enjoy headliners Primal Scream and a special light and sound installation as part of the two-day 3D Festival to celebrate the opening of the museum, while around 12,600 people attended the festival on the Saturday.
Philip Long, director of V&A Dundee, said: “V&A Dundee officially opened its doors last Saturday and since then more than 27,000 people have explored this wonderful building and its fantastic galleries. Kengo Kuma, the architect who designed V&A Dundee, wanted the museum to become a new living room for the city and it’s been a joy to watch people from Dundee and further afield make themselves at home. As well as museum visitors, we have also celebrated the opening of V&A Dundee with the 22,600 people who joined us for the 3D Festival.
“It’s been a very busy week, and I’d like to thank everybody who has helped us celebrate this historic moment and all those who came to V&A Dundee during our opening week.
“We’re very much looking forward to welcoming even more visitors to the museum.”
V&A Dundee hopes to welcome 500,000 visitors in its first 12 months and around 350,000 visitors annually after that. A man is in hospital after he was attacked with a knife in the early hours of the morning.
Police said the 36-yearold was attacked in Strathmore Gardens, Rutherglen, Glasgow, between 1.30am and 2am on Sunday.
He was taken to University Hospital Hairmyres in East Kilbride where he is in a stable condition.
Police are appealing for information about the incident in South Lanarkshire.
Detective Constable Debbie Walker, of Cambuslang CID, said: “Officers are currently trying to establish a detailed description of the suspect and have been checking the area for CCTV and making door to door inquiries.
“We are appealing to anyone who lives in the area or may have been nearby at the time of the incident who has any information to come forward and contact us.
“You may have heard a noise in the early hours, or have seen somebody hanging around prior to the attack taking place.”