Dundee

Dr Stacey Hunter, Creative Director Dundee Design Festival with some of the exhibition materials donated by V&A Dundee photo by Grant Anderson

- Festival Creative Director Dr Stacey Hunter reveals how every festival action and decision is assessed on a festival sustainability matrix as new partnerships are developed for renewable energy, transport and exhibition staging
- V&A Dundee and Bard donate materials from exhibitions Tartan and The Grit and the Glamour to help Dundee Design Festival meet target of no more than 30% of new materials
in the festival build
- Festival venue Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) powered by green, and sustainable energy sources and electric bus company Ember will provide emissions free public transport to the festival

Dundee Design Festival have revealed their commitment to creating one of the world’s most sustainable design festivals ahead of the 5th edition of the festival which takes place from 23 - 29
September.
Partnerships with V&A Dundee and Bard to repurpose exhibition materials, Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc to power the festival site with a mix of green and sustainable energy sources , and Ember to provide electric public transport, are the first stages for the festival which also has a commitment to using no more than 30% of new materials in the festival build.
Dundee Design Festival 2024 (DDF 24) will celebrate the city's 10th anniversary as a UNESCO City of Design by working with local and international partners to present an ambitious and optimistic programme of design-centred exhibitions, events and projects. Dundee was the first and remains the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design, one of a global network of 49 cities around the world. This status recognises the city’s diverse contributions to design in fields including comics, textiles, medical innovation and video games. In addition to hosting public facing design events like the biennial festival, Dundee is the only city in Scotland to have its own dedicated design museum; V&A Dundee as well as two leading art and design universities and Dundee & Angus College who co-founded the UK’s first Service Design Academy with Open Change. The city has a thriving Creative Industries sector with a variety of design related businesses.
Speaking ahead of the festival Annie Marrs, Lead Officer at UNESCO City of Design Dundee said:
“We are surrounded by a strong and successful design community here in Dundee. One of the reasons Dundee was designated a UNESCO City of Design is the city’s commitment to design and
innovation driving our commitment to sustainable development. It’s natural for us to want to create one of the world’s most sustainable design festivals and ensure that the best in design is
showcased to as many people as possible.
Our festival’s Creative Director, Dr Stacey Hunter is committed to applying a design process to every element of decision making around what we do and don’t include in the festival. By creating a matrix for decisions around sustainability Stacey has helped us to centre our core values and work towards achieving our sustainability goals.
There is lots of great work being done in this field, but the impact of temporary festivals can be significantly negative on our environment. I believe that DDF 24 can be a case study in how cultural organisations and businesses can collaborate to lower their collective carbon footprint.
Everything we do is shaped by the values of the UNESCO Creative Cities mission statement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Whenever we embark on a project, we ask ourselves
‘What difference will this make?’ and we consider how what we do locally helps to achieve a global impact.”

Amy McKenzie and Isabelle Bakam of Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc sort some of the exhibition materials donated by V&A Dundee photo by Grant Anderson

Creative Director and festival curator Dr Stacey Hunter said:
“We are developing partnerships with a variety of organisations who share our values around sustainability and the value of design. It's been a really exciting phase for us as we, as a team, push ourselves to minimise waste and maximise opportunities.
As details have emerged about our amazing site at MSIP and our sustainability goals, design-centred organisations like V&A Dundee and Bard reached out to us with generous offers of
materials and infrastructure. For me as a designer and a curator this is a natural way of doing things in Scotland. We are a tight-knit community and Scotland has always been known around the world for its capacity for frugality! Any kind of waste is something that most people working in design are always keen to eliminate and the partnerships we are developing are symbolic of that urge to be efficient.
One of the biggest insights I have taken away from working with designers who are tackling sustainability through all sorts of lenses - from toxicity to circularity - is that sustainability is a
journey. Eco-shaming is holding people back from trying to improve and taking risks. It's important to think about a project holistically and stay flexible. Our decision to hold the festival all under one roof at Scotland's biggest innovation parc was the first step; underpinning all activities at MSIP is a collaborative approach to achieve the goal of net zero so it's the perfect environment for us to learn and grow. We are working with designers who are pushing the boundaries of their own practice and through conversations with them about their work we're able to strengthen our knowledge.
Specifically for DDF, I have been mapping potential materials and manufacturers in Dundee to determine the most viable materials, in terms of availability, infrastructure, and the lowest carbon options for constructing our festival infrastructure. Transforming low value available materials into something beautiful sometimes takes longer but thanks to MSIP I have the longest install period for a show I've ever had! Material choices and production will be as sustainable and non-polluting as possible – including designing for deconstruction and onward reuse. That means we will be designing in a way that maximises the possibility for us to reuse our displays at future festivals.”
As well as a drive to re-use as much material as possible, Stacey has developed a materials palette guiding the festival’s overall aesthetic from items which can be borrowed or reused such as breeze-blocks, Heras fencing, scrap timber and bricks. All of which will help Dundee Design Festival achieve their sustainability goals of using less than 30% virgin materials.
Speaking in more detail about the collaborations and process involved in developing one of the world’s most sustainable design festival, Creative Director Dr Stacey Hunter also said:
"The beauty and the challenge at MSIP is the scale of the spaces. We need to use all of the available infrastructure and lighting conditions to our advantage whilst ensuring we have a
harmonious and exciting balance of dark and light, height, density, volume, massing and porosity.
We are working with renowned lighting designer Emma Jones to use lighting to demarcate vantage points, cluster areas and quiet zones which will enhance visitor experience and encourage a sense of anticipation, hospitality and conviviality. These are all techniques that are regularly employed by interior designers and for me, they demonstrate how you can design a space with far less consumables like paint, mdf or acrylic.
When I received the Tartan exhibition infrastructure from V&A Dundee, I had to reimagine it in a completely new configuration for our festival so that it feels fresh and original. I'm working with an excellent designer and fabricator Louise Forbes - she is great at devising the minimum amount of framework required to add to the structures we have.
Festivals are the ideal platform to experiment with more sustainable approaches. I feel confident that our visitors will fully support the decisions we are making as a team and will hopefully feel
empowered to make more sustainable choices for themselves whether it's DIY at home or a gardening project.”
Caroline Grewar, Director of Programme, V&A Dundee said: “It was extremely important to us from the outset that the Tartan exhibition infrastructure was designed and built to have a life beyond its initial 9-month run at V&A Dundee. We are delighted that the exhibition materials will now have a second home at this year’s Dundee Design Festival less than 5 miles away from the museum, and we can support the festival team in achieving their sustainability goals of using less than 30% new materials.”

Exhibition materials from V&A Dundee’s Tartan exhibition which will be repurposed for Dundee Design Festival 2024 photo by Grant Anderson

Harvey Morgan Founders Associate with Ember said:
"We are looking forward to working closely with the festival to promote sustainable travel to the venue at the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc. Using Ember's all-electric public bus services will be the most convenient way to reach the festival from all across Scotland, with services running direct to MSIP from Dundee City Centre, as well as from cites across the Central Belt including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, and more."
Dundee Design Festival is Scotland’s largest design event. Curated by Local Heroes founder Dr Stacey Hunter, the 5th Festival embraces Multiplicity as its theme. This year’s ambitious
programme will take over 10,000sqm of space at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc hosting a week of free exhibitions, activities and immersive installations.
The former factory will be home to work by over 100 designers, each celebrating local, national and international design talent. Showcasing the diversity of design, the festival will recognise the
multiplicity of ways that designers and makers contribute to our world. Powered by clean and renewable energy, the festival’s ambition is to be one of the world’s most sustainable design
events.

Listings Information:  Dundee Design Festival 2024, 23 - 29 September
Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, Baldovie Rd, Dundee DD4 8UQ

Full programme of free events and exhibitions announced in July 2024. dundeedesignfestival.com
For further information and updates about the festival go to dundeedesignfestival.com   @dnd_designfest
 

 Europe’s first major exhibition on kimono opens to the public on Saturday 4 May at V&A Dundee.
 
Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk presents the kimono as an iconic garment and a dynamic, ever-evolving icon of fashion, tracing the influence of the kimono from 17th century Japan to present-day cutting-edge couture and street fashion across the world.
 
In the exhibition, rare 17th and 18th century kimono are displayed alongside modern designs from Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, and Alexander McQueen. The kimono’s recent reinvention on the streets of Japan is also explored through work by a new wave of contemporary designers and stylists.
 
Arguably the ultimate symbol of Japan, the kimono is revered within the country as the embodiment of national culture and internationally regarded with fascination. This symbolic status, and the fact that its basic form has remained consistent over the centuries, means that that the kimono is often viewed as a simple, timeless garment. Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk counters that conception, revealing how the kimono has always been a dynamic item of fashionable dress that has been restyled consistently throughout its history, influencing modern fashion and popular culture, from evening wear and festival fashion, to rock stars and Star Wars.
 
Highlights of the exhibition include a kimono created by Living National Treasure Kunihiko Moriguchi, contemporary designs from L’Wren Scott’s 2014 collection, and a kimono owned by Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury worn whilst at home. Designs by Yves Saint Laurent, Rei Kawakubo and John Galliano reveal the kimono’s role as a constant source of inspiration for fashion designers. Paintings, prints, film, dress accessories and other objects feature throughout the exhibition, providing additional context to the fascinating story of the style, appeal and influence of the kimono.
 
Overall, almost 300 works are featured, including kimono especially made for the show, with three-quarters drawn from the V&A’s collections and the rest generously lent by museums and private collections in Britain, Europe, America and Japan.

This is the final opportunity to see these rare works together on the last stop of the Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk international tour running at V&A Dundee from 4 May until 5 January 2025.

The exhibition is split into three parts, beginning in the mid-17th century when a vibrant fashion culture emerged in Japan. The increasingly wealthy merchant classes demanded the latest styles to express their affluence, confidence and taste, while leading actors and famous courtesans were the trend-setters of the day. The simple structure of the kimono focused attention on the surface, allowing for the creation of sumptuous patterns using sophisticated techniques.

The first section of the exhibition, ‘Kimono In Japan’, explores these designs and shines a light on a fashion-conscious society not dissimilar to today’s, in which desire for the latest look was fed by a cult of celebrity and encouraged by makers, sellers and publishers. Kimono were first exported to Europe in the mid-17th century, where they had an immediate impact on clothing styles. Foreign fabrics were also brought to Japan and incorporated into kimono. Rare survivors from this early period of cultural exchange, including garments made in Japan for the Dutch and kimono tailored from French brocade and Indian chintz, are on display to reveal the fluid fashion relationship between East and West that resulted from the global trade network.
 
‘Kimono In The World’ reflects the worldwide craze for Japanese art and design in the late 19th century. Kimono bought from department stores such as Liberty & Co. in London were worn by those wishing to express their artistic flair. Japan responded by making boldly embroidered ‘kimono for foreigners’, while the domestic market was transformed by the use of European textile technology and chemical dyes. The kimono’s biggest impact on western fashion came in the early 20th century, when designers such as Paul Poiret, Mariano Fortuny and Madeleine Vionnet abandoned tightly-corseted styles in favour of loose layers of fabric that draped the body. This was part of a broader fascination with East Asia which can be discerned in jewellery and dress accessories of the period.
 
‘Kimono Transformed’ shows how the kimono has continued to inspire fashion designers around the world. The potential of the garment to be translated and transformed is seen in designs by Thom Browne, Duro Olowu and Yohji Yamamoto. The kimono’s timeless, universal quality has also made it the ideal costume for film and performance. The display includes the outfit worn by actor Toshirō Mifune in Sanjūrō, the film that George Lucas acknowledges as the inspiration for the costumes worn in Star Wars and Oscar-winning costumes from Memoirs of a Geisha. Japan is also witnessing a resurgence of interest in kimono. Jōtarō Saitō designs kimono couture for the catwalk, Hiroko Takahashi seeks to bridge the divide between art and fashion, and more casual styles are created by small, independent studios such as Rumi Rock and Modern Antenna.
 
Anna Jackson, curator of Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, said, “Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk explores the aesthetic, social and sartorial importance of the kimono. This iconic garment is generally viewed as a timeless and traditional costume. We counter that conception by showing that kimono have always been highly dynamic garments, at the heart of a fashion culture that has thrived in Japan since the 1660s. The exhibition reveals how kimono fashion has been translated across cultural and geographic boundaries and has had a major impact on global dress styles for nearly 400 years.”
 
Kirsty Hassard, V&A Dundee curator, said, “A lot of the clothes we wear today are indirectly inspired by kimono in the way that it changed the silhouettes designers were crafting, particularly in the 20th century. We hope visitors will enjoy gaining insight into the importance the kimono has had on global fashion, and the unique experience of seeing the Kimono exhibition within the Japanese-Scottish inspired architecture of V&A Dundee on the final stop of its international tour.”
 
Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee, said, “V&A Dundee by the banks of the Tay is a Scottish-Japanese building and it sets the stage perfectly for Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk. Architect Kengo Kuma took inspiration for the V&A Dundee building from the rocky cliffs of eastern Scotland’s coastline, the maritime heritage of Dundee, and places of worship in ancient Japan. “Opening Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk at V&A Dundee celebrates kimono’s enduring place in fashion design history and contemporary culture, whilst also offering us an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate Scottish-Japanese cultural bonds, spanning hundreds of years and influencing art, design, fashion and architecture to engineering, food, gardens, film, animation, music and more.”
 
V&A Dundee have a range of activities inspired by the exhibition running throughout the year, including a free Educators Preview on 16 May; Kimono Unwrapped: Curators Talk on 7 June, and 30 days of free family workshops inspired by Japanese pop culture and play with comics, origami, toys and videogames running daily during the school holidays from 6 July to 4 August.
 
A Japanese-inspired Afternoon Tea will also launch on Saturday 4 May to complement the exhibition. Tatha Bar & Kitchen at V&A Dundee have paired the traditional afternoon tea offer with Japanese inspired flavours, including miso caramel and white chocolate tart, matcha and vanilla cake, and a selection of savoury treats delights including miso soup and crispy fried kataifi prawns.
 
Pre-loved kimono jackets are available from the Shop at V&A Dundee,  alongside new collaborations with Scottish designers, Hayley Scanlan and Claire McVinnie. Claire McVinnie has created an exclusive collection of laser cut wooden fan brooches using chiyogami silk screen traditional washi paper, and fashion designer Hayley Scanlan has re-made her best-selling shoulder bag using a Japanese inspired fabric. The official Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk book by Anna Jackson and Josephine Rout, featuring over 250 illustrations, is also available from the V&A Dundee shop.
Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk – V&A Dundee Shop (vandadundee.org)
 
Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk open from Saturday 4 May 2024 until 5 January 2025 at V&A Dundee.
Tickets £7 to £15. £2 discount when booking online. Members, and 18s and under, go free.
https://vam.ac.uk/dundee/whatson/exhibitions/kimono

Running alongside the wider Scottish Climate Week, from 25^th September – 1^st October, Dundee Climate Week is set to culminate in a day of celebrations on Saturday 30^th, as City Square plays host to Re:City: Reimagine, Remake, Reconnect.

Designed to bring Dundee residents together with a day of free activities, information presentations and performances, Re:City will run from 10am-4pm with hands-on workshops, live music from Kate Nicoll and Esperi, Loose Parts Play from ScrapAntics and the opportunity for attendees to speak with Home Energy Scotland representatives who will be on-hand to give advice on available funding which covers everything from home improvements, using renewables and insulation, to eBikes.

Inspired by Scotland’s Climate Week, the day has been designed for everyone to enjoy. Those looking to enjoy a hands-on activity or two will be able enjoy masterclasses with ReBoutique who will be creating DIY beauty products, as well as with Transition Dundee, who will be celebrating all things textile repair, guiding participants in how to hem, fix fabric holes, and even make curtains! Those looking for a creative outlet will be able to get stuck into the sustainable floristry courses which will be run from local florist Branches and All.

MVV Environment Baldovie will be in City Square, with an unmissable game based on recycling, with free tote bags for the first 100 participants which will be filled with goodies from Zero Waste Scotland, and Dundee City Council will also have giveaways for visitors to enjoy. There will also be the opportunity to pick up a brochure for The University of Dundee’s Festival of the Future and engage with Dundee City Council’s Countrypark Rangers until 1pm.

Dr. Bike will be offering both a tune-up for regular cycle commuters and an opportunity for those who are considering cycling to work to get their bike safely on the road, whilst the Dundee Cycle Hub will have eCargo bike rides to enjoy as well as offering advice on walking and cycling here in Dundee, and the British Transport Police Scotland will be in City Square to mark bikes.

There will also be the opportunity to have an impact on the future of Dundee – The Eden Project will be holding consultations throughout the day, as well as displaying their newest designs for Dundee.

Green-fingered visitors will be well catered for – representatives from The Maxwell Community Centre and Garden as well as the Dundee Community Growers Network, whilst Campy Growers will be there with activities around growing your own food from seed to plate. University of Dundee Botanic Garden will be in attendance to share about their latest community outreach projects and how to get involved.

Speaking about the event,  Convener of the Climate, Environment and Diversity committee Heather Anderson said: "I am so looking forward to Re:City: Reimagine, Remake, Reconnect taking over City Square.

"Our city is one which places sustainability and climate change at the heart of our day-to-day operations, and I hope that everyone who takes part in the event not only has a wonderful time but also learns valuable skills which they can take forward and use in their day-to-day lives.’

Councillor Steven Rome, Convener of the Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure committee, said: "It’s a fantastic opportunity for Dundonians to enjoy a day of free fun which places sustainability at the heart of the operations. It’s wonderful to see so many local groups and businesses getting involved, and the opportunity to learn more about what we can look forward to with the Eden Project shouldn’t be missed!"

Dundee’s air connections soared to new heights this week with the launch of Loganair’s new Heathrow routes.

The City of Discovery’s link with the UK capital’s bustling aviation hub has been restored for the first time in 40 years, bringing game-changing opportunities for inward investment, tourism and onward travel.

The historic milestone was celebrated at a special event at Dundee Airport as Loganair’s new Heathrow to Shetland via Dundee service was greeted by members of Dundee City Council as the inaugural arrival touched down just after 11am.

As announced in April, Loganair – the UK’s largest regional airline - is now offering connections to London Heathrow from Derry, Dundee, Orkney and Shetland in addition to its existing Isle of Man services.

Derry flights switched from London Stansted on Saturday 6^th May, while flights to Dundee left from Heathrow (previously London City) for the first time in 40 years on Tuesday.

The changes have brought the first-ever link between City of Derry Airport and Heathrow, connected Sumburgh and Heathrow for the first time and restored an air link from Heathrow to Dundee last offered a generation ago.

The change from London City on the Shetland via Dundee route means Dundee customers will now be able to book connections to and from Dundee via London Heathrow to 97 destinations in 45 countries, with today’s Shetland-bound arrival also underlining the UK regional connectivity now being offered via the airline.

Loganair Chief Commercial Officer, Luke Lovegrove, said: “Dundee is now plugged in to Heathrow’s connections with the rest of the world thanks to these new routes, offering incredible opportunities for travel, tourism and inward investment into the City and wider Tayside region.

“For the first time in a generation, Dundonians will have the option to use their local airport to fly worldwide or take the short journey to explore Shetland – one of the most remote and unique communities in the UK.

“These routes really take Loganair’s provision of regional connectivity to new heights and it was wonderful to celebrate the moment in a city which means so much to Loganair.”

Mark Flynn convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “The London Heathrow service is predicted to provide economic and social benefits to Dundee and the wider city-region, through access to a global hub without the need for passengers to travel to another Scottish airport.

“At the same time, the connectivity to London itself is quick and straightforward and the route is a great way to get to the UK capital for business or leisure travellers coming from Dundee.”

Liz Henderson, Director of Membership and Events at London Chamber of Commerce said: “Sustainable aviation is vital for British business to grow jobs and the economy across the United Kingdom and overseas. Loganair’s new Heathrow routes achieve that by boosting connectivity across key regions in the UK, ranging from traditional business and tourism centres to some of the country’s most remote destinations.”

Lorna Jack, Chair of Dundee Airport Limited (DAL) Board said: “It has been great to be able to join the team here in Dundee today, as they welcomed the first flight from London Heathrow that will be connecting through to Sumburgh.

“We are delighted to support Dundee City Council and Loganair on this new service which is a positive move in terms of air travel to and from the City of Discovery.  Heathrow opens a world of onward connectivity opportunities for the people of Dundee and the wider Tayside area.”

Picture (L-R):  Liz Henderson, Director of Membership and Events at London Chamber of Commerce;  Mark Flynn, Convener of Dundee City Council's City Development Committe;  Loganair Chief Commercial Officer, Luke Lovegrove;  Lorna Jack, Chair of Dundee Airport Limited (DAL) Board  

"The UK Department for Transport has now confirmed Loganair's plans for Dundee Airport into Heathrow"

The UK Department for Transport has now confirmed Loganair’s plans to move Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services from City of Derry and Dundee Airports into Heathrow, in a move described by the airline as a “gamechanger” for regional connectivity.

The UK’s largest regional airline announced its intention earlier this week to move the Dundee and Derry flights - currently linked to the capital via London City Airport and Stansted respectively - to London Heathrow, subject to Government consent.

That approval has now been received from the UK Secretary of State for Transport, affirming the move of City of Derry and Dundee services into Heathrow’s Terminal 2 from Saturday 6 May.  This will be the first ever link between Derry and Heathrow, and for Dundee, restores an air link last offered almost 40 years ago.

Scottish island communities in Orkney and Shetland also stand to benefit from the move as Loganair’s same-plane services from Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands and Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands via Dundee will fly to London Heathrow from Sunday 7 May.   

Moving to London Heathrow brings a range of global flight connections to customers, who can also benefit from Loganair’s multiple interline and codeshare agreements. This includes a long-standing relationship with British Airways, the largest airline at Heathrow, with worldwide connections from all four new domestic destinations bookable via ba.com from Friday 21 April.

The new routes – operated by Loganair’s locally-based crews in Derry and Dundee – will provide new inward investment opportunities and tourism into the UK’s regions.  

Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair’s Chief Executive, said: “This is a milestone moment for Loganair - and indeed for regional connectivity.

“With approval from the Department for Transport and opening of worldwide connections for booking with British Airways, we’re now all set for this move to Heathrow. It will be revolutionary for connectivity for Derry and Dundee and the regions that the airports serve, and the benefits will be felt as far afield as Orkney and Shetland too.” 

Aviation Minister Baroness Vere said: “Our funding continues to sustain these vital transport links, support local jobs, and provide passengers with more options whilst travelling between London, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

“By approving the move to Heathrow, we’re boosting local economies in Derry/Londonderry and Dundee, and passengers will enjoy more onward connections.”

Today (21 April), British Airways has confirmed it will extend its partnership with Loganair adding 11 new routes to its codeshare agreement. The expansion will now give British Airways’ customers access to 46 of Loganair’s UK routes, meaning that customers can book onward connections from destinations across the airline’s route network, or point to point travel in the UK more easily through British Airways’ website. Customers who book onto these selected routes operated by Loganair through ba.com can also earn Avios and Tier points as part of British Airways’ Executive Club programme.

The new routes available to book from later today include:

• Aberdeen to Newcastle
• Belfast City to Dundee
• Belfast City to Inverness*
• Isle of Man to Cornwall, Newquay
• London Heathrow to Dundee
• London Heathrow to Kirkwall, Orkney
• London Heathrow to Sumburgh, Shetland
• Southampton to Stornoway
• Manchester to Sumburgh, Shetland
• Manchester to Stornoway*
• Dublin to Inverness**

Jonathan added: “We welcome the news of our codeshare agreement expansion with British Airways. This is a cherished partnership and one which further consolidates our position as the go-to airline for connectivity across the United Kingdom.” 

1st April - 3rd September

Introducing Discover Dundee:  your official guide to the City of Discovery

Back for it's second year running, Dundee's only open-top sightseeing tour will run daily from 1st April until 3rd September 2023.  Climb up-top to enjoy the best views, feel the wind in your hair, and bask in the blue skies of Scotland's sunniest city.  There's so much to see and do as you travel around town - so join Discover Dundee and Xplore Dundee at your own pace.

Read more about the tour - here are the highlights:

• Journeys run every half-hour, seven days a week
• Hop on and off to visit must-see landmarks and attractions
• Enjoy the vista from Dundee Law and skyline views from the Tay Road Bridge
• Tickets last all day, and are available/valid on all Xplore Dundee buses
• Learn and laugh with a full audio commentary

The basics

Open-top buses run every half-hour during the day, seven days a week.  And the tour is seasonal, running from Saturday 1st April until Sunday 3rd September. 

Tickets last all day and can be bought on the bus from the driver (using cash or contactless), or as an mTicket in the app (just search 'Xplore' in your app store).  Prices can be found on Xplore website.   And don't forget: tickets aren't limited to the Discover Dundee tour - you can use them to travel further afield on all Xplore Dundee routes and network, such as services 5/5a to Broughty Ferry.

The main stop is at Discovery Point on Riverside Drive - handily located near both the Railway Station and V&A Dundee.  When the bus is resting there between journeys, one of their friendly, knowledgeable drivers will be on-hand to answer questions, sell tickets and help you find your way.

The buses are fully accessible, with a low-floor platform and space for a wheelchair, certified mobility scooter or up to two unfolded buggies.

The tour

The full journey lasts up to 50 minutes, but you can hop on and hop off along the way to Xplore Dundee at your own pace. Check out their highlights map downloadable from their webpage. You can join the tour at any designated bus stop along the way.

From the open top deck, you'll have a unique view of all the city's must-see landmarks and attractions.  And Dundee really is Scotland's sunniest city - averaging more than 1500 hours of bright sunshine every year.  Of course, we do recognise the reality of Scottish weather from time to time, which is why (on such rare occasions...) the front section of the top deck is enclosed:  so that you can escape the elements and still see the sights.

Make sure to grab a set of complimentary headphones (or feel free to plug in your own) so that you can learn and laugh with the audio commentary guide - complete with local voice-overs, quiz questions, fun sound effects and music to really immerse you in the experience.

Discover Dundee are excited to tell the story of our city, which includes lots for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.  Learn more about the history behind Dundee's famous "Three Js", find out why Dundee rubs shoulders with cities like Berlin, Istanbul and Singapore, and so much more.

 Welcome aboard!

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This morning on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, Greg James revealed that Lewis Capaldi, The 1975, Raye, Niall Horan, Anne-Marie and Arlo Parks are the first acts set to perform at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2023 which will be held in Dundee from 26 – 28 May. 

Camperdown Park in Dundee, Scotland will play host to Radio 1’s flagship live music event with over 80,000 music fans expected to attend the three day festival, over the late May bank holiday weekend. 

The first artists to be announced are (in alphabetical order):

•    Anne-Marie 
•    Arlo Parks 
•    Lewis Capaldi 
•    Niall Horan 
•    Raye 
•    The 1975  

Radio 1’s Big Weekend kicks off the UK’s festival season by bringing some of the biggest UK and international artists to cities that may not otherwise host such a large scale event, shining a light on the local area and providing a major boost to the local economy. There is always a huge demand for tickets, with the festival selling out within minutes every year.

Radio 1’s Big Weekend was originally set to go to Dundee in 2020 but due to the Covid-19 Pandemic it was unable to go ahead. This year, the BBC is working closely with Dundee City Council to put on Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2023.

Lewis Capaldi says: “I’m very excited to be playing in Dundee for Big Weekend, I never managed to get tickets last time so I’m very excited to be able to come along and enjoy it as well as playing.” 

The 1975 say: “We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Dundee for our first outdoor show of the year!”

Niall Horan says: “I can’t wait to kick off festival season at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2023 in Dundee. See you all there!”

Arlo Parks says: “Can’t wait to be at this year’s Big Weekend! What a joy to perform for you guys in Scotlandddd”

Greg James, Radio 1 Breakfast Show host, says: “We were gutted not to come to Dundee due to the pandemic so it’s massively exciting to finally fulfil our promise this year. I was on holiday close to Dundee in the summer and decided I wanted to move there so doing Big Weekend nearby is just the first part of my cunning plan to get out of London. I’m glad Radio 1 have fallen for it.”

John Alexander, Dundee City Council leader, says: “This is an incredible opportunity for Dundee and we are looking forward to hosting such an exciting event at Camperdown Park after the disappointment of 2020’s cancellation.

“Radio 1’s Big Weekend will showcase Dundee not only to the tens of thousands of people who attend, but also the millions who will watch and listen through the BBC. We expect a huge economic boost for the area as the event has been worth millions of pounds to previous host locations.” 

Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says: “Radio 1’s Big Weekend always delivers the biggest and hottest artists from around the World and what better place to bring them than Dundee! We’ve got some brilliant ideas for the event this year and a few special guests who we’ll be bringing along to celebrate with us!”

Further information about Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2023, including the full line-up and ticketing details will be announced on Radio 1 in the coming months.

BBC Radio 1 will broadcast live from the festival site across the weekend, with performances and tracks available live and on demand across Radio 1’s iPlayer channel and BBC Sounds.

For more information see this dedicated Big Weekend page.

Image by Matt Rowe, courtesy of Art Night - Zadie Xa, 'Child of Magohalmi and the Echos of Creation' (2019) at Walthamstow Library, co-commissioned by Art Night, Tramway, Yarat and De La Warr.

In 2023, internationally renowned contemporary art festival Art Night will deliver its first full iteration in a city outside London - in Dundee.  In June 2023, over one packed weekend, organisers will present ten major new commissions in civic spaces across the city by internationally significant and emerging artists.  The free festival will be brought to Dundee in partnership with Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA).  The scheduled date is the evening of the 24th of June 2023.  Art Night will also collaborate with V&A Dundee;  Creative Dundee;  NeoN Digital Arts;  Cooper Gallery, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) at the University of Dundee;  GENERATORprojects;  Dundee City Council;  Dundee Heritage Trust, and Hospitalfield, Arbroath.

The commissions will comprise ambitious live events, installations and performances and be presented in well-known Dundee locations, bringing to audiences and participants world-class cultural opportunities in the city.

Art Night has delivered four editions of the festival in London (2016-2019) in collaboration with major partners such as The Hayward Gallery and the ICA and showing work by globally significant artists such as Barbara Kruger;  Joan Jonas;  Zadie Xa;  Celia Hempton;  Mark Leckey;  Christine Sun Kim;  Frances Stark and Alberta Whittle.  One edition took place across the UK and online (2021) during the Pandemic, including an outdoor commission by the Guerrilla Girls in Dundee, which was also installed in further sites across Scotland, England and Wales alongside other works and projects.  The Dundee festival will be the first time a full festival has taken place in a city outside London.  Since 2019, Art Night has been curated by Artistic Director Helen Nisbet, a Shetland and London based curator and a team of curators and project workers based in Dundee.

Helen Nisbet, Artistic Director of Art Night

Art Night Dundee will take place primarily around the city centre of Dundee.  Many of the commissions will be developed in partnership with local communities and the majority will be developed as co-commissions with local, national and international partners.  Local artists and arts workers will be employed by the festival.  Some works will be installed longer than the ‘festival’ weekend for audiences to engage with across the summer of 2023, and one work will be gifted to a local collection after the project ends, creating further legacy of the festival in the city.  It can be announced now that one commission will be a new work by Turner Prize winning artist Tai Shani.

Joe Namy, 'The Eighth Automobile' (2019), Live performance at Sainsbury's Rooftop in Walthamstow, commissioned for Art Night 2019 and part of the London Borough of  Culture in Waltham Forest programme. Photo by Rama Knight, courtesy of Art Night

Artistic Director of Art Night, Helen Nisbet said, “We are beyond delighted to announce that our first full national festival will be in Dundee. Dundee is an excellent city which is very close to my heart due to formative experiences in the city and the people I’ve met here.  Dundee is a tremendous venue for Art Night, it has a vibrant cultural scene and strong social history and we will collaborate with inspiring partners to commission new work by globally important artists and work with local people to deepen our knowledge of the city. Art Night will bring a festival atmosphere to the city and wider area and kick off the summer of festivals in Scotland in 2023.  I look forward to telling you more plans soon, including the artists we will work with and more about the gorgeous and rich locations works will take place within”.  The programme will be free to attend, as with every edition of Art Night.  Since its inaugural edition, Art Night has also engaged with a wide range of audiences, exhibiting work in everyday places such as libraries, parks and squares, places of worship, shopping centres and car parks.

Beth Bate, Director, DCA, added, "We're thrilled to be partnering with Art Night to bring this exciting programme of new commissions to Dundee.  Our city, with its lively visual arts scene and world class galleries and museums, is a perfect location for Art Night's first full festival outside London, and we can't wait to share the full programme with our audiences."  Art Night Dundee is funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Kirsteen Macdonald, Visual Arts Officer at Creative Scotland said:  “This is a hugely exciting development for Dundee and art lovers across the city and beyond. Art Night Dundee is the result of excellent partnership working across the region combined with the strong artistic vision of curator Helen Nisbet.  The festival will provide a unique opportunity to support an exciting group of artists to reach new audiences beyond traditional gallery spaces, reimagining the city and bringing people together in new experiences.”

Mark Flynn, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said:-  “I am delighted that Dundee will be the first venue outside London to host the unveiling of so many ambitious live events, installations and performances developed in partnership with local communities.  The city’s reputation as a visitor attraction of choice for its heritage and culture can only be cemented with the announcement of such a prestigious and creative event happening here.”

The artist line up will be revealed later in 2023.

As Christmas draws closer, Dundonians can look forward to getting into the festive spirit, with the launch of Christmas in Dundee on December 1^st in City Square.

Opened by Lord Provost Bill Campbell, the installation heralds 24 days of free family fun which have been designed to appeal to all age groups.

With a jam-packed calendar which includes live music performances, workshops, and even a visit from Santa Claus on December 22^nd to collect his letters, City Square is set to be a hub of seasonal activity.

Visitors can look forward to the return of Dundee’s favourite winter character Pingoo, alongside the much-loved Dundee Christmas Card and this year will also see a spectacular Heofon Maze take pride of place.

Visitors can challenge their friends to an end of curling, and those looking to finalise their Christmas lists can make the most of the illuminated wishing fountains.

Little ones can enjoy free activities, including a Santa letter writing station, and this year visitors can help spread goodwill at the Social Bite Tree of Kindness by donating gifts to people who are homeless and vulnerable this Christmastime.

The first weekend of activity kicks off with a not to be missed Unicorn Dance Party and Santa Dash, whilst crowds can look forward to flash mobs, appearances from magical nutcrackers, book readings and performances from Shaper Caper during the lead up to Christmas.

Lord Provost Bill Campbell said: "It’s wonderful to see City Square lit up again for Christmas. Between the installations, activities, performances, and workshops planned, there is something for everyone to enjoy, and with so much free fun on offer, I hope that the families of Dundee can make some truly special memories here this festive season."