29 September 2011

'V&A at Dundee - A Cultural Collaboration' - Tuesday, 4th October

Recently installed V&A at Dundee director Philip Long will discuss the multi-million pound project with members of the public at the next Dundee Arts Café event.

He will be joined by James Brining, artistic director and chief executive of Dundee Rep, when the pair lead the ‘V&A at Dundee - A Cultural Collaboration’ discussion, which takes place at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum on Tuesday, 4th October.

V&A at Dundee will be an international centre for design housed in a world-class building at the heart of Dundee’s waterfront. It will host major exhibitions of international design, celebrate Scotland's design heritage, inspire and promote contemporary talent, and encourage design innovation for the future.

Philip and James will discuss the cultural collaboration underpinning the V&A at Dundee, and how cultural institutions can work together in innovative ways to strengthen and grow the city’s cultural offering for the benefit of all.

The event will take place days after the opening of the 'Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee' exhibition, the first in a series of partnership projects between The McManus and the Victoria and Albert Museum as part of the pre-opening programme for the V&A at Dundee. This exhibition will also be discussed by Philip and James.

Dundee Arts Café is a programme of talks showcasing arts research and developments taking place locally. The series is organised by the Universities of Dundee and Abertay, and Dundee City Council’s Leisure & Culture department.

Dr Jon Urch, event organiser and public engagement co-ordinator at the University of Dundee, said, 'The whole city is abuzz about the V&A at Dundee project as it will help to revolutionise the city’s cultural life.

'That said, there is already a fantastic cultural offering in Dundee through the McManus, DCA, Duncan of Jordanstone, Dundee Rep and others, and Philip and James will explain how a cultural collaboration lies at the heart of the project.'

Dundee Arts Café events enable members of the public to relax and discuss the arts, from English to History, Philosophy to Architecture, and Fine Art to Product Design, with some of the leading names carrying out work in these areas in Dundee.

The events last one hour, and speakers talk passionately about their work for 30 minutes before the floor is opened up to an informal discussion with the audience. All talks take place in The McManus Café, Albert Square, Dundee.

'V&A at Dundee - A Cultural Collaboration’ takes place at 6pm on Tuesday, 4th October.

This event is free, and open to all. Limited seating means visitors are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment. The Cecil Beaton exhibition will be open at the end of this event, with the building closing at 8 pm.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277