Hansard

I will at least attempt to make as strong a case for the city of discovery as George Adam made for Paisley.

First, I offer a degree of context for my support for Dundee’s bid to become the European capital of culture in 2023. I first visited Dundee in December 1979. That sticks in my memory because I had to overcome a national bus strike so that I could see my favourite band, the Jam, perform at the Caird hall. As a 17-year-old, my impression was of a grey and rather grim place.

Let us fast forward to 1985, when I moved to Dundee to live and work in the city. The six years that followed were a mixed experience. I had come from affluent and bustling Aberdeen to a place that lacked the vibrancy and positivity of the granite city.

I would never have imagined then that, in 2017, Dundee would be bidding to become a European capital of culture. However, well it might do so, because the transformation of Dundee since my first visit and my time living in the city has in many regards been utterly astonishing. My constituency, Angus South, borders what is now a vibrant and confident city that is on the up and is looking to the future.

As the debate demands, let us consider Dundee’s cultural offering, starting with Dundee Repertory theatre. I should begin with a proud-dad declaration: my actress daughter was a graduate trainee at Dundee Rep. The Rep is unique in Scotland in having a permanent acting ensemble; it is also home to the Scottish dance theatre. The ensemble remains a crucible of talent in which the artists of tomorrow are created, through its graduate scheme, which offers drama school graduates the opportunity to join the Rep for up to a year.

The Rep believes that the highest-quality theatre should be available to all, which is important. It has taken some of its productions out beyond its own four walls and into the community, across the city and elsewhere—it has reached places such as Eassie and Carnoustie in my constituency. Earlier this year, the Rep won three prizes—best production, best ensemble and best male performance—at the critics’ awards for theatre in Scotland for its production of “Death of a Salesman”.

As members know, a huge amount of regeneration is taking place in Dundee, with activity centred on the waterfront and the V&A as the centrepiece. That is an example of an area realising the need to think long term. The Dundee central waterfront masterplan was published back in 2001 and looked forward right through to 2031.

The V&A will provide Scotland with an international design museum. It is due to open next year, and it is taking shape in a variety of ways. The galleries will host international touring exhibitions from the V&A, which will make Dundee the only location in the UK outside London with such globally significant offerings. Visitor forecasts suggest that up to 350,000 people could be attracted to the V&A every year. That is brilliant news for not just Dundee but Angus and the wider region.

It is great that, long before it is due to open, the V&A has been engaging with schools. The first project was a schools design challenge, which was open to all secondary 1 pupils in Dundee and Angus. Arbroath academy and Webster’s high school, in my constituency, were two of the 10 schools that were chosen to attend the design jam.

A few yards away from the V&A we have Slessor Gardens. Thousands of people have already congregated there to watch acts such as Little Mix and Olly Murs—they are hardly a patch on bands such as the Jam, I suggest, which graced the nearby Caird hall, but they are nonetheless extremely popular. The cabinet secretary should not worry; I am not looking for her to concur with my opinion—I do not know whether she is a fellow Jam fan. Dundee’s reputation for popular music was enhanced in August when Mark Ronson was among the headline acts at the new Carnival 56 festival.

Alongside all that, Dundee has excellent educational institutions, which each boast great cultural links. I think that I heard on the radio the other day that 60 nationalities are represented on the staff of the University of Dundee, which encompasses the excellent Duncan of Jordanstone college of art and design. That college has been ranked in the top 1 per cent in the world for art and design. Turner prize winner Susan Philipsz and nominees David Mach, Louise Wilson and Luke Fowler all studied at Duncan of Jordanstone.

Culture takes many forms, and not just the traditional ones. We need to remember Dundee’s thriving computer games sector, at the heart of which is Abertay University, which this year celebrates 20 years since it became the first university in the world to offer degrees in computer games. In March, the prestigious Princeton Review ranked Abertay best in Europe for its undergraduate courses and in the top 20 in the world for its postgraduate courses. The university has become a melting pot for international games talent. Students access links to the likes of Sony, Disney and Ubisoft while learning from a host of seasoned academic staff. The Dare ProtoPlay games festival and THIS festival act as excellent focal points for celebrating the industry in Dundee.

I should also mention Dundee and Angus College, which is ably led by its principal, Grant Ritchie, who has identified the welcoming of students and staff from across the EU as well as the regular exchanges that take place between the college and other European institutions as helping to develop a modern and inclusive view of the world in that establishment.

Why is an Angus MSP prepared to wax lyrical about the nearby city? All of us are benefiting and will continue to benefit from the transformation of Dundee. I hope and believe that, with the proper marketing, the securing of the city of culture title and the general increase in tourism that is expected in Dundee because of the V&A and the waterfront project, my constituency will reap further spin-offs.

Whether people come for cultural events such as Bonfest or those that are put on by Hospitalfield house in Arbroath, for excellent historical attractions such as Glamis castle and Arbroath abbey or for the glorious beaches, glens and golf courses, Angus South has much to offer visitors and we must capitalise on the opportunity. The cross-local authority work that is being done as part of the Tay cities deal exemplifies what is achievable throughout the region by working together.

I will conclude with the words of the leader of Dundee City Council, Councillor John Alexander, who said:

“Dundee is putting itself on the map with its ambitious and bold cultural strategy. However, our work is not just about putting the city on the map, but in making sure that all maps lead to Dundee. This city is and has been going through a cultural renaissance over the last few years and our journey towards 2023 is a hugely exciting opportunity. ... Be bold, be ambitious, be Dundee.”