For anyone new to any city, it can be difficult to know where to go and what support is around. That’s why Creative Dundee has put together this guide to help you find your feet.
You may have just arrived in Dundee and want to know what the city has to offer for creatives. Maybe you are considering if Dundee, newly crowned UNESCO City of Design, could be a good location to set up your creative practice. Perhaps you have lived in Dundee for a while and want to get more involved. This guide covers the main cultural spaces and key organisations who can help you along the way.
If you think we’ve missed anything please let us know at: news@creativedundee.com
Cultural Spaces
Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) is an arts centre which has two galleries featuring local, national and international artists; also a two screen arthouse cinema, print studio and cafe/bar. DCA is home to the University of Dundee’s Visual Research Centre. DCA’s diverse programme also includes: Small Society Lab, exploring the development and understanding of the small city of the future; Blue Skies Festival, a festival of kite flying, stargazing and rainbow chasing; and Discovery Film Festival, an international film festival specifically programmed for young audiences. @dcadundee
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum
The McManus houses eight galleries covering art, local history and the environment, with both permanent and temporary collections. The Dundee and the World gallery focuses on the City’s international collections highlighting Dundee’s long involvement in overseas trade. The Victorian Art Gallery has original curved red walls, vaulted glass ceiling, ornamental plasterwork featuring the nationally historic oil paintings. The McManus host the Dundee Arts Cafe events which welcomes artists and social scientists from different fields to discuss their work with the public. @McManusDundee
A non-profit artist-run exhibition and project space supporting local artists. Generator organise a series of exhibitions each year – often featuring the work of recent graduates. @GENERATORproj
Tin Roof Collective
Tin Roof is an arts collective located in a former warehouse off Blackness. They often have exhibitions running and music event nights featuring members and/or invited artists. @Tin_Roof_Dundee
Encompassing five galleries, Exhibitions at DJCAD is a distinctive platform in Scotland for challenging innovative practices and critical discourse in contemporary art, design and visual culture. Spaces with regular shows and events include the: Cooper Gallery; Cooper Gallery Project Space, Matthew Gallery, Centrespace and Matthew Recess Cabinet. @exhibitionsDJCAD
LifeSpace, a collaborative partnership between DJCAD and the College of Life Sciences, engages artists and scientists collaborations which foster long-term cross-disciplinary activity – they have a regular exhibition programme within the gallery. @lifespacedundee
Dundee Rep is a purpose built 450-seat auditorium and performance space home to Rep Ensemble, the only full time repertory theatre company in Scotland. The 20 strong team perform regularly to local audiences alongside a programme of national and international tours. Rep Creative Learning bring together professional arts practitioners and those in training and education. They work with over 25000 participants a year in Dundee. @DundeeRep
Scottish Dance Theatre is Scotland’s national dance company based in Dundee Rep Theatre. They collaborate with artists of outstanding calibre in the fields of music, design and the visual arts to produce dance of the highest quality. They perform on local, national and international stages and through their creative learning program they run a weekly dance classes in Dundee. @sdtdance
Hannah Maclure Centre is an arts, exhibition, community and digital events space with a 72-seat cinema and performance space. The venue which is part of Abertay University, hosts independent film screenings, performances, seminars and workshops. @HannahMaclure
The Caird Hall is Dundee’s main concert and event venue, located in the heart of the city, in City Square. It has a diverse and full programme of events, from bands, to comedy, classical, dance and more.
The Gardyne Theatre based at Dundee and Angus College’s Gardyne Campus has a full and regular range of shows covering a wide range of drama, comedy, musical theatre, live music, dance, and community productions. @GardyneTheatre
The Space houses the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance, the only place in Scotland offering full-time, three-year training in contemporary dance performance to professional level. Regular performances run at The Space.
Dundee Science Centre has both a permanent exhibition and regular temporary shows; they run events and the annual science festival. @dundeescience
Opening in 2018, V&A Museum of Design Dundee will be Scotland’s international centre for design. The museum will feature exhibits exploring Scotlands past and future influence on design innovation. V&A Dundee currently run a programme of events, exhibitions and workshops across design, business and innovation. @VADundee
Heritage Spaces
One of the six oldest ships in the world -a warship from the golden age of sail. First launched in 1824 she is currently berthed at Dundee’s Victoria Harbour. @FrigateUnicorn
An icon in Dundee’s waterfront. The ship and adjoining exhibitions at Discovery Point tell the story of her and her crew’s epic journey to be the first to reach the Antarctic. @DiscoveryDundee
Scotland’s Jute Museum showcases the incredible rise and and subsequent decline of Dundee’s textiles industry. An ambitious project to restore the Highmill will bring new access to the city’s textile heritage. @VerdantWorks
Built as Britain’s first public observatory, opened in 1935. Today, visitors can still view the stars with the observatory, display areas and planetarium open daily in winter months. @MillsObs
Protecting the banks of the Tay since 1496 the castle has faced many sieges and battles . Today, it houses displays on the life and times of Broughty Ferry, its people, the environment and the wildlife that live close by.
The Tower Foyer Gallery and the Lamb Gallery host regular exhibitions; the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum has fascinating biological specimens from around the world; the Tayside Medical History Muesum at Ninewellls shows the collections of the history of pioneering medical research in Dundee and the surrounding area. @UoD_Museums
Barrack Street Collection
Home to the McManus Collections Unit which cares for everything from birds to butterflies, coins to costumes and fossils to foreign artefacts – many of which are internationally important. Free tours by appointment. @McManusDundee
Showcasing the previously hidden private collections of Tayside’s transport heritage. The museum recently secured new premises, a former tram depot, which is being restored to create a permanent home for the collection. @DMofT
Finding Studios, Resources and People
For freelancers and small businesses Dundee’s creative spaces offer practical and affordable workspaces. They have a range facilities to meet the needs of your creative practice and come with the benefit of allowing collaboration with other creatives.
Fleet Collective brings together artists, designers and other skilled people in a shared work environment. Fleet offer flexible work space – monthly or hot-desking rates. @FleetCollective
Wasps Studios
Wasps provide affordable studios to support artists and art organisations in locations across Scotland. The Meadow Mills studio in Dundee houses up to 100 artists and features a gallery showcasing local artistic talent. @WaspsMeadowMill
Tin Roof Collective
Tin Roof is an arts collective located in a former warehouse off Blackness, which provides affordable studio spaces and a vibrant community for artists and designers. @Tin_Roof_Dundee
A non-profit artist-run exhibition and project space supporting local artists. Membership is open to anyone working as an artist. @GENERATORproj
District 10 offers a dedicated hub for digital media and creative businesses. The first phase constructed reused 27 shipping containers and includes workspace for up to 15 small creative enterprises.
If you need a larger space or shopfront location register for the Vacant Property Database. The site allows you to view listings of vacant commercial properties for lease and sale across the Dundee area.
Somewhereto_ can help find creative people aged 16-25 years find space to make ideas happen – for free! Contact the Somewhere_Scotland team at icecream@somewhereto.com to find out how they can help you. @somewhereto_SCT
Dundee has many creative networks and interest groups who run regular events. Whether you are in to technology, food, arts or the environment you’ll find an enthusiastic group to join.
Creative Dundee share details of creative happenings in and around Dundee. The Creative Calendar will keep you up to date on recurring events – for one off events and workshops see the Events section. Creative Dundee host a quarterly Pecha Kucha Night giving an insight into the lives and practices of around a dozen local creatives. @Creative_Dundee
If you are hosting a event in the Dundee area and would like it shared with Dundee’s creative community contact news@creativedundee.com
Smallpetitklein
Smallpetitklein, is a dance company which is interested in engaging audiences and participants in adventurous and transformational journeys that touch the intellect and the emotion. They run regular classes and performances. @smallpetitklein
Dundee Makerspace is a community workshop and creative space where people can collaborate on exciting projects. Members come from creative, scientific and artistic backgrounds creating a diverse mix of projects. You bring your idea’s and expertise and Makerspace provides the tools to turn them into a reality. Makerspace host a weekly Monday Maker Meetup where you can find out more. @dundeemakespace
Skill Share encourage the sharing of practical skills. Bringing generations together and maintaining skills and crafts that might otherwise be lost. They run workshops ranging from bicycle repair to gardening and textiles skills. @skillsharednd
Think Different Dundee
A meet up event on the first Thursday of every month for those with an interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, design and science. @ThinkDiffDundee
Creative business support
Cultural Enterprise Office
Cultural Enterprise Office provide business support and development services for creative businesses and individuals – they run a number of free events for creatives starting-out or looking to grow; their website also has a number of great free creative business resources. Starter for 6 is an annual initiative run by CEO to help creatives turn their ideas into successful businesses, it includes intensive training, expert advice and the opportunity to pitch for funding. @CEOScotland
Enterprise North East Trusts provide Business Gateway services for the Tayside and Grampian regions. They support 800 start ups a year through a team of business advisors, skills development workshops and networking opportunities. @enetweets
Youth Business Scotland
Youth Business Scotland supports young people aged 18 to 30 years old to start-up and grow in business, by providing essential funding and professional mentoring support.
Scottish Institute for Enterprise
SIE help students in Scotland discover their entrepreneurial talent and start up their own ventures and they hold events and activities for students. The Fresh Ideas competition gives students the chance to win small prizes to explore turning their ideas into a business opportunity. Summer Bootcamp events help students to identify and develop new and existing enterprise opportunities.
Dundee Volunteer Gateway
Dundee Volunteer Gateway is Dundee’s Hub for all things voluntary. The Volunteer Centre help people utilise skills within the voluntary sector. Voluntary Action provide advice and resources to organisations working with volunteers.
Dundee Social Enterprise Network
DSEN is a member-led organisation which supports social ventures through events and specialist advice.
Design In Action is a platform for collaboration between skilled designers and businesses. Their CHIASMA events bring together diversely skilled groups to to solve complex problems with new creative ideas. The most innovative ideas are funded into development creating new products, new jobs and economic growth. @DesigninAction