The initiative, which was kickstarted by a £500,000 donation from The Northwood Charitable Trust, aims to safeguard the futures of Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee Heritage Trust, Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, Dundee Science Centre, and V&A Dundee.
“For us, championing the cultural recovery in Dundee is not only about safeguarding our world-class venues but also, importantly, ensuring that their wider economic impact and learning and community programmes continue to benefit everyone in the city,” notes Christopher Thomson, trustee of The Northwood Charitable Trust.
“People and organisations throughout Dundee have come together to achieve remarkable things before, not least the creation of V&A Dundee itself. We hope that our contribution to the challenge fund inspires our community to ensure that our vibrant cultural scene remains a beacon for regeneration and prosperity in Dundee and beyond.”
An additional £200,000 has also already been received from private donors including Tim Allan and Alasdair Locke, with the Fund’s priority now being to locate further support from major donors with a track record of backing Dundee’s cultural organisations or businesses and cultural philanthropists keen to support the city’s economic recovery from Covid-19.
Allan, chair of V&A Dundee, says “Dundee’s sense of common purpose and community is very strong and the need for leadership and investment has never been stronger.” The new Fund, he adds, will “enable generous private individuals and businesses to support the visitor economy in the city, and to invest in the future economic success of Dundee’s cultural sector”.
