UNESCO CITY OF DESIGN DUNDEE MONITORING REPORT 2014 -18 The People’s Tower: Dundee’s Royal Arch EXECUTIVE Claire Dow and artist Olivier Grosstête recreated a piece of Dundee’s Victorian architecture from SUMMARY cardboard boxes. Hundreds of volunteers built the cardboard arch which stood for 24 hours before been toppled and trampled! Dundee is a small, dynamic city with a strong In the last four years, Dundee has: cultural identity and a history of innovation and creativity. The city has time and time again re- | Created a robust city-wide partnership that invented itself, focusing on design and creativity governs and directs the designation; to build and sustain economic growth. From | Secured joint funding arrangements between rapid growth in the 19th century as a result of local government, the city’s two universities, the jute industry, through post-war electrical and the city’s cultural trust and the private sector. mechanical engineering, the city is now home to a cutting edge life sciences sector, a dynamic | Curated and promoted two major Dundee digital media industry, world-renowned higher Design Festivals; education institutions and a vibrant design and creative industries sector. | Established a city wide Dundee Design Month (May) Dundee became a UNESCO City of Design at the end of 2014. This report summarises the main | Built and opened Scotland’s first and only areas of activity which have been delivered over Museum of Design – V&A Dundee; the past four years. | Embedded social design as part of the local The city’s designation is linked to its Cultural government’s strategy for transforming the Strategy. The strategy is based on a belief in delivery of public services; the transformational power of culture to release | Played an active role in the UNESCO Creative and reveal the innate creativity of individuals and Cities Network and a leading role in the communities – a power which we believe can Design Sub Network. be harnessed to help people live better, fairer, happier lives. Scotland is a nation with a proud design heritage. Design has always been in the heart, mind and Dundee has used its City of Design designation soul of Dundee. Today, the world recognises to pursue its cultural and social ambitions in a Dundee’s place on the international design way which uses the cultural richness of the city stage. Design is an integral part of what makes to support engagement, ambition, achievement 2 Dundee a liveable city. A place its citizens love. 35 and the well-being of its citizens. GENERAL INFORMATION NAME OF THE CITY: Dundee DELIVERY OF DUNDEE'S Creative Dundee amplify and connect the CITY OF DESIGN city’s creativity to support creative talent to grow COUNTRY: Scotland, United Kingdom of and sustain their practice. Creative Dundee lead Great Britain & Northern Ireland DESIGNATION 2014 - 2018 collaborative projects which generate local, CREATIVE FIELD OF DESIGNATION: Design national and international opportunities and play Dundee’s activities as a member of the UNESCO an integral role in directing city wide design DATE OF DESIGNATION: December 2014 City of Design network are carried out under initiatives. in the spirit of the UN Sustainable Development the auspices of the Dundee Partnership. A city INTRODUCTION DATE OF SUBMISSION OF THE Dundee City Council delivers essential Goals. As an active partner in the Creative Cities wide, community planning group, the Dundee CURRENT REPORT: December 2018 services to its 148,000 residents. Like many Network, we will share experience, knowledge Partnership includes senior decision makers from cities, Dundee faces challenges but is committed Dundee believes in the power of design to and resources with like-minded cities to promote all sectors working together on strategies which ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPORT: to using design to tackle poverty, increase improve the lives of our citizens: to develop our the value of design, to share best practice deliver a shared vision for the city. Dundee Partnership opportunities, address inequalities and create communities, to deliver sustainable economic and collaborate with other cities which have UNESCO City of Design Dundee is supported by strong, safe communities. regeneration, to improve the lives of our people recognised creativity as a strategic factor of PREVIOUS REPORT SUBMITTED AND DATES: and, by sharing knowledge and experience, the a strategic group which meets every six weeks, sustainable regeneration and development. UNESCO City of Design Dundee, 2015 - 2016 Leisure & Culture Dundee, a Scottish lives of others. bringing together a range of key stakeholders. Report, March 2017 Charitable Incorporated Organisation, has been To further demonstrate its commitment to The designation is chaired by Stewart Murdoch, the host organisation of Dundee’s UNESCO The city’s membership of the UNESCO Creative sustainable development, Dundee is also signed Managing Director of Leisure & Culture City of Design since its designation in 2014. Its Cities Network supports the delivery of this up to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate FOCAL POINT CONTACTS Dundee, and managed by Anna Day, University Managing Director chairs the designation and belief. and Energy, the world’s largest coalition of civic of Dundee. Anna is supported by a Project the organisation provides administrative support leaders promoting action to combat climate UNESCO City of Design Dundee Dundee is committed to the Mission Statement Coordinator, Annie Marrs, and Desk Officers, for staff, budgets and project delivery. of the Creative Cities Network and in particular change, and to the OECD Champion Mayors 1 Shore Terrace, Dundee, DD1 3AH Poppy Jarratt and Kirsten Wallace. Initiative, a global coalition of local authority The University of Dundee’s mission is to to pursuing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Stewart Murdoch, Chair leaders who have made tackling inequality and The designation’s day to day delivery is directly transform lives, locally and globally, through the Development Goals set out in Transforming Annie Marrs, Project Lead Our World 2030: Agenda for Sustainable promoting inclusive growth a policy priority. supported by a Core Group. Each of the creation, sharing and application of knowledge. following members has an important role to play The University’s Duncan of Jordanstone College Development - described as the closest the We believe in the transformative power of design E [email protected] in driving forward and delivering the designation. of Art & Design is No 1 in Scotland for art and world has come to a strategy to end extreme to grow our city: in its ability to enhance our T +44 (0) 1382 307455 poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate design. companies, provide better student opportunities, W www.dundeecityofdesign.com Abertay University is preparing students for change. improve our architectural environment, develop life and work in the modern world with strong V&A Dundee may have only opened their Scotland was among the first nations to sign our community services, refine our transport links to industry, designers and academics. doors in September 2018, but their team have up to the goals and Dundee has recently developments, bring imaginative solutions to our Abertay was the first University in the world supported Dundee’s design designation since demonstrated its commitment by publishing health provision - for design to influence every @DesignDundee to offer a computer games degree playing a 2014 by participating in, collaborating with and examples of the actions it is taking to contribute aspect of our city’s life. @DesignDundee fundamental role in the growth of the sector here leading a variety of design projects locally and and globally. internationally. towards each of the goals - see Appendix 4 for We are committed to ensuring design and facebook.com/cityofdesigndundee further details. designers are integrated with, and integral to, 4 5 The Dundee Partnership will continue to lead the way our city works. Dundee’s activities as a UNESCO City of Design CONTRIBUTION TO THE NETWORK D OSTERSUND CC DC P D HELSINKI DC P C V KOLDING V D CC KORTRIJK P V P DUNDEE KRAKÓW CC D D CC P ENGHIEN-LES-BAIN GRAZ P V DC D CC CC P V C V P PARIS BEIJING MONTREAL D D MILAN P C P V SAINT-ETIENNE SEOUL C V CC UNESCO Creative Cities Network Meetings CC D D CC P C V P V DETROIT DC C TURIN P P BILBAO KANAZAWA CC DC CC ISTANBUL V P DC UNESCO Design Cities Subnetwork Meetings NAGOYA C V KOBE C V D Dundee Participation at UCCN member festivals, P SHANGHAI V events and conferences CC WUHAN V P C MEXICO CITY DUBAI V C Collaborations, shared learnings and projects V CC JINGDEZHEN DC C V P PUEBLA D CC Visitors welcomed to Dundee SHENZHEN P V C P V from UCCN member cities D P C V SINGAPORE CC UCCN Member Participation at Dundee festivals, P events and conferences D P BRASILIA V BANDUNG (CITY OF) GREATER GEELONG C V CAPETOWN V 6 7 © Free Vector Maps CONTRIBUTION Participation, contribution and collaboration Hosting of a Working or TO THE NETWORK within the UNESCO City of Design Network is Coordination meeting highly valued by Dundee. The city recognises the positive impact and unique opportunities In addition to working sessions at each AGM, that learning from and sharing with each other Dundee has participated in seven City of Design provides. As an active member of the Creative Sub-Network meetings and hosted in 2018. Cities Network, Dundee has shared experience, Attendance at Sub-Network meetings has knowledge and resources with other members been by members of Dundee’s City of Design OSTERSUND to promote the values of design and to develop delivery team and political representatives when intercultural dialogue. appropriate. This active role has included participating 2015 Saint-Étienne (France), Helsinki (Finland) in the activities organised by the network members and contributing to a variety of events, 2016 Paris (France), Ostersund (Sweden) exhibitions, meetings, learnings and projects.