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Creative Dundee

Fabric

Peer-led space to share, reflect and imagine how collective action can shape a better tomorrow.

What is Fabric?

We believe that it’s in our collective interest to take a proactive approach to nurture the talent and values that will lead us to tomorrow. That’s why Creative Dundee runs Fabric, which aims to build a collective intelligence for Dundee’s thriving creative sector and requires it to be driven by people who are actively interested in the direction of the city.

Fabric is an informal peer-led development journey for people who want to grow their confidence and agency for leading creative initiatives that will have positive impacts across the city. For each programme, a selected group of 20 people come together to share their knowledge, inspirations and ideas, meeting with doers and connectors in Dundee and beyond.

This creates a safe space for people to share their insights and experiences, be inspired by current leaders and discuss how we can collectively make Dundee even better!

We’re announcing the next Fabric in February 2026!

Who is Fabric for?

Fabric is open to anyone who is actively interested in the future of Dundee’s local creative scene, wants to drive positive change, and is looking for:

  • Time and peer support to reflect on your own creative leadership skills, your core values and your vision for the future;
  • Opportunities to better understand Dundee’s strengths and challenges, and create new connections across the city;
  • A safe space to meet and discuss with other creative leaders within the city.

We want the Fabric group to reflect the social, economic and cultural fabric of the city. Everyone’s welcome – whatever your background, identity or experiences, or regardless of your job role, creative practice or position in your community. 

Fabric 2024/25

Between November 2024 and March 2025, we brought Fabric back for its fourth iteration in collaboration with Dundee Changemakers Hub. Bringing together creative practitioners and community organisers, this programme focused on community climate action, taking inspiration from current doers and connectors in Dundee and beyond, and exploring how collectively we make Dundee even better.

Read our final report for more insights into Fabric 2024/25, including resources and feedback from participants.

“I already knew Dundee was an incredible place, but spending time with the variety of awesome humans on this programme has deepened my appreciation and understanding of what the city and its people have to offer in creating a resilient community.”

Fabric 2024/25 participant
Blogs
03.06.25

Fabric 2024–2025: Creative Changemaking in Dundee
Blogs
23.04.25

Fabric Day 4 – From Dwellers to Changemakers
Blogs
17.03.25

Fabric Day 3 – Gardening for the Future
A screenshot of a zoom call. The Fabric participants are shown waving from 18 individual zoom boxes.
Blogs
13.02.25

Fabric Day 2 – Bring a Chair, Create the Table
Blogs
14.01.25

Fabric Day 1 – Play & Collective Imagination

Fabric 2020

In 2020, the Fabric programme was quickly adapted to be delivered digitally, responding to COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions.

It focused on collective leadership and social justice, and included opportunities to hear from city and community leaders, to discuss the fluidity of leadership, what it means for arts organisations to play a civic role, the importance of sharing stories and much more!

“Really really impressed with how you have managed to turn this programme digital at such short notice, and I am very glad we still got to do it this year! Have really enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot, and met some brilliant folks. Thank you!”

Fabric 2020 participant

Read the final report for more insights into Fabric 2020, including resources and feedback from participants, and a series of blogs documenting the programme:

Fabric 2018/19

From November 2018 to March 2019, Fabric participants came together monthly in various locations, met with city and community leaders and took part in group discussions about the achievements and challenges of the city’s thriving creative sector.

The programme focused on Creative Scotland’s connecting themes and was an opportunity to think locally on how to keep the Dundee’s Creative Industries Strategy 2017–2021 action plan in motion.

“Thank you for putting together the Fabric programme. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to spend time with such an interesting and inspiring group of people, and look forward to the collaborations and discussions that develop from it going forward. […] keep up the fantastic work, Dundee is a better place for it!”

Fabric 2018/19 participant

Read the final report for more insights into Fabric 2018/19, including resources and feedback from participants, and a series of blogs documenting the programme:

Fabric Dundee

In 2016, Creative Dundee piloted a new peer project called Fabric Dundee, which brought creative practitioners and businesses together to strategically develop the future of the creative sector in the city and benefit those living, studying and working in and around the city. The project aimed to support Dundee’s active community in drafting a creative industries strategy for the city, by involving those who will be impacted by it. More about Dundee’s Creative Industries Strategy 2017–2021.  

Creative Dundee invited a group representing some of the many creative disciplines which make up Dundee’s impressive scene to come together to share ideas, inspirations and experiences, and discuss what a local creative industries strategy should include. A series of themes emerged around spaces, skills, resources and connectivity, which helped inform the discussions and were valuable in showing how creative initiatives developed, matured and succeeded or failed.

Read a series of blogs documenting the programme:

“I like Dundee’s size. It means you can be connected very quickly with a wide range of people, projects and communities. This enables all kinds of things to happen relatively quickly. There is also a spirit in Dundee of mutual support which is very refreshing.”

Fabric Dundee participant

Dundee’s Creative Industries Strategy 2017–2021

Fabric initially aimed to support Dundee’s active community in drafting a creative industries strategy for the city, by involving those who would be impacted by it. This strategy was initiated by Creative Dundee on behalf of the city and co-designed with those working and studying in Dundee’s creative sector, and the local and national agencies who support them. Read more about the process and launch event.

Dundee’s Creative Industries Strategy
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