Victoria and Albert Museum comes to Dundee

With the London Design Festival approaching, we’re in danger of getting a bit London-centric. So I was glad to learn this week that plans for a new Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee are a step closer to fruition.

According to a press release issued by the University of Dundee, the Scottish government has pledged its support for the new venture, which will be a partnership between Dundee City Council and the city’s two universities.

While Glasgow has enjoyed the best reputation for design in UK outside London, Dundee has struggled to reinvent itself as a cultural destination after the decline of its shipyards in the 1980s.

But Scotland’s cultural minister, Michael Russell says the V&A Dundee could attract an additional 500,000 visitors to the city, as well as creating some 900 local jobs and an additional £5.7m output to the Scottish economy.

He said: ‘Dundee has made huge strides in recent years and I’ve been struck by the coordinated approach to regeneration work in the city. This project could be a dramatic new chapter in the life of Dundee to position the city as an international art destination and a thriving centre for our creative industries.’

The V&A Dundee, which will be on the city’s waterfront and will focus on fashion, architecture, product design, graphic arts and photography, should be a reality within 5 years. Great news for Scotland.