30 April 2007

Dundee link-up with V&A announced

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and the University of Dundee can confirm plans to embark on a feasibility study to examine the prospects of a V&A presence on the banks of the River Tay in a partnership which could involve elements of the V&A programme being shown in a new building in Dundee as well as intellectual and creative collaborations.

The V&A generates world-class exhibitions and works with many national and international partners to make its exhibitions and expertise widely available. The V&A is currently exploring opportunities to expand this network and a new venue in Dundee which could display these internationally touring exhibitions would allow the V&A to further its role as the world's greatest museum of art and design.

The partnership could also provide additional benefit for other cultural attractions based in Scotland and a significant economic boost to the city of Dundee and the surrounding area.

Dundee has a rich history in textiles and is home to one of the UK’s leading art colleges, Duncan of Jordanstone - part of the University of Dundee - creating the potential for a rich intellectual partnership with the V&A.

Professor Georgina Follett, Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, said, "The Victoria and Albert Museum celebrates the best in the world of design, the applied arts and the crafts, its collections and exhibitions celebrate the spirit of discovery and adventure and can be predictive of future thinking, attributes strongly shared with Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design."

"Dundee is home to a thriving cultural community, with the University, Dundee Contemporary Arts, the Rep, and the refurbished McManus Galleries. The V&A would be a stunning addition to this, and have a magnificent impact on the city."

NOTES TO EDITORS

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design - University of Dundee - has a longstanding reputation as one of the UK’s leading Art Colleges a community of recognized scholars and researchers in the visual disciplines including Fine Art, Design and TV and Imaging.

The exceptional research strengths of Duncan of Jordanstone have in the last three years seen it attract over £1.3 million in funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council alone for a diverse range of projects spanning major curatorial and editorial expertise in video, film and photography, craft practice and culture and the redefinition of the visual in Gaelic culture and Design for the 21st century iniatitive.

For PRESS information about the V&A please contact Michael Murray Fennell in the V&A press office on 0207 942 2503 or email m.murrayfennell@vam.ac.uk

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk