02.12.24
“Dundee has an international reputation for using culture and creativity as a catalyst for building resilient and robust communities. Our strong history of cultural investment means Dundee is a vibrant place which harnesses its creativity and cultural richness to support the engagement, ambition, achievements and wellbeing of its citizens.” Dundee’s City Plan 2022—2032
When thinking of cultural organisations which embody the above statement, it would be hard not to consider Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, Dundee Heritage Trust, Dundee Science Centre and UNESCO City of Design Dundee.
They’re each emblematic of what a place would define as ‘cultural richness’. However, these deeply rooted organisations are also included on Dundee City Council’s list of 25 proposed budget cuts to services in Dundee for 2025-26. Recommended by DCC’s senior leadership, the proposals will either reduce or remove funding / financial support to DCC services, and community and cultural organisations. We, the public, are now being asked for our say on these proposed cuts.
Like the public sector, all community and cultural organisations are doing essential work in extremely challenging circumstances, as services and budgets are stretched ever thinner. In the city, we work towards Dundee’s City Plan and specific strategies such as the freshly published Dundee’s Culture Strategy 2024-2034. It’s clear there are many priorities to balance.
As an organisation which champions the role of culture and creativity in our everyday lives, Creative Dundee feels it’s important to highlight that culture is a fundamental human right. Cultural engagement shapes and positively impacts our lives, and very recent research from the Scottish Government highlights that culture “is a major part of people’s expression and identity, with a strong link to social connections and wellbeing”.
Irrespective of vast, well-evidenced research generated across the world, culture is not a statutory service for Local Authorities in Scotland to deliver, therefore it is often most at risk of facing the deepest cuts.
The cultural organisations listed all receive less than 10% of their total income from DCC. This might seem an incidental amount but demonstrating Local Authority support is critical for long term sustainability; for leveraging further income/trading, with some of the noted organisations generating up to 99% of their income externally. With limited resources, organisations create significant social and economic benefits, and multiplier effects for the city and our communities. There is a critical link between cultural organisations and the broader creative economy, particularly for creative freelancers, students, grass roots groups and micro businesses; this is important as the creative industries are a key sector within the UK’s Industrial Strategy.
One example of this in action is UNESCO City of Design Dundee. This year marks the ten year anniversary of Dundee being the first and only UNESCO City of Design in the UK.
As a founding partner in the now decade of the designation, Creative Dundee has collaborated with their team on many initiatives which have enabled Dundee’s residents to be heard in genuinely meaningful, collaborative ways, such as We Dundee; ensured local young people were confident and platformed during the Year of Young People through the PechaKucha Takeover; brought together Scotland’s diverse creative networks with Mass Assembly; and enabled international cultural exchange with the global Cities of Design in Dundee.
On Wednesday 4 December 2024, the Scottish Government will announce its Budget for 2025-26; the uncertainty at a national level, coupled now with the local proposed cuts is creating a perfect storm which we believe is counterintuitive to the city’s future ambitions and risks all that has been collectively built over the decades.
In recent months, thousands of people across Scotland have already dedicated time, energy and resources making clear their support for culture due to delays in funding announcements for Multi-Year Funding, and through the grassroots outcry at the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals. Cultural funding uncertainty also includes maintaining cultural heritage assets, and securing previously promised Levelling Up funding. Now with this surprise consultation, hundreds, perhaps thousands of workers and users of services across Dundee are having to yet again engage in unexpected lobbying and advocating.
Over the weeks ahead, Dundee City Council is asking Dundee’s residents to say what matters to them through this public budget consultation before the deadline, Sunday 29 December 2024.
Dundee’s City Plan sets out its vision:
“Dundee will be a caring city which has tackled the root causes of poverty and delivered fairness in incomes, education and health.
Dundee will have a strong, creative, smart and sustainable city economy with jobs and opportunities for all.
Dundee will be a greener city, made up of strong communities where people feel empowered, safe and proud to live.”
As a city already well recognised as a leader in culture, community regeneration and design, we should harness our creativity to design, facilitate, reform and navigate the seemingly impossibly challenging times. To forge a stronger ecology built on empathy, mutual understanding and trust for meaningful change.
Culture may not be statutory but it is essential for our place and communities to achieve our ambitions and more. We urge you to complete the consultation and consider taking the following actions.
Strength to our friends and partners across the city, and all those having to turn their full attention to the consultation at an already challenging time of year.
Complete Dundee City Council’s Budget Consultation, the survey states: “You can respond to as many or few of the questions as you wish.”
Join the network of culture, heritage and arts organisations who launched the #InvestInCulture campaign, calling on the Scottish Government to follow through on their commitment to long-term sustainable funding for the arts.
Dundee residents can write directly to their councillors (using either this list of city councillors or a tool like writetothem.com) to express their support for culture in the city – consider sharing how cultural provision in Dundee has impacted your life, your place, your family, your wellbeing, your work or your civic pride.
Sign an open letter led by Dundee designers to oppose the proposed cuts to UNESCO City of Design Dundee. The list of signatories will be sent to Dundee City Council on Mon 2 December. Once signed, please note that you must verify your signature for inclusion.
Support the creative and cultural projects you love and enjoy directly – DCA, Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, Dundee Heritage Trust and Dundee Science Centre all provide means of doing so, whether that’s paying for tickets, donating, or becoming a paid member or supporter.
Outside of the organisations listed in the budget consultation, many other creative and cultural organisations in the city from grassroots initiatives to cultural institutions will also welcome your direct and continued support.
Follow the research and advocacy work of Culture Counts, Campaign for the Arts and Culture Commons.
While financial support is vital, there are many ways to champion our city’s creative ecosystem. Letting friends know about events to attend, engaging on social media, using resources and spaces, experiencing creativity with the children and young people you know, emailing your support and feedback, and the act of showing up are all essential ways to contribute.
If you would like to support us in creating even better content, please consider joining or supporting our Amps Community.
