Dundee becomes the only Scottish city to host two Plus Tate recognised galleries

The University of Dundee’s Cooper Gallery has become the first Scottish University gallery to join Plus Tate.  They are joined in the network of leading visual arts organisations by Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) resulting in Dundee becoming the only Scottish city to host two Plus Tate recognised galleries. 

 The Plus Tate initiative was started in 2009 by Tate to support the growing interest in contemporary art across the UK. 

 The Cooper Gallery at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) and DCA are two of 13 visual art organisations to become part of the Plus Tate network across the UK. 

 DCA is an internationally renowned centre for contemporary arts that enables audiences, artists and participant to see, experience and create. 

 With two large scale gallery spaces, two cinema screens, a busy print studio, an award-winning learning programme, as well as a packed programme of events, workshops, classes, and activities aimed at all ages and abilities, DCA enriches people’s lives through art, culture and creativity. 

 The exhibitions programme at DCA brings world leading contemporary artists to Dundee with recent exhibitions including Patrick Staff, Alberta Whittle, Eve Fowler, Mark Wallinger, Lorna Macintyre and Margaret Salmon.

 Designed in 1953 by architect James Wallace as an integral part of DJCAD, Cooper Gallery provides a unique space for exhibitions and events and provides a supportive environment for emerging and significant artists to conceive and produce risk-taking and ambitious projects within a leading School of Art and Design. 

 Cooper Gallery presents a public exhibition programme of contemporary artists from the UK and internationally including Jasmina Cibic, Phil Collins, the Bow Gamelan Ensemble, Bruce McLean, Jade Monserrat, Laura Mulvey & Peter Wollen, Paul Noble, Georgina Starr, and Ulay. 

 Both galleries work to embed diversity and inclusion across all aspects of their organisation is one of the many reasons they have been selected to join the distinguished visual contemporary art network.

 Cooper Gallery and DCA’s artistic visions and their focus on engaging broad audiences are key attributes recognised by Plus Tate.

 Professor Anita Taylor, Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, said, “I am delighted that the quality and profile of Cooper Gallery has been recognised by Plus Tate.

 “Cooper Gallery provides a unique resource at the heart of the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, the University, and the creative and cultural offering of Dundee.

“Led by Principal Curator, Sophia Hao, Cooper Gallery has an ambitious and distinctive programme that forefronts innovative practices and critical discourse in contemporary art, design and visual culture.”

 Beth Bate, Director of DCA said “We are delighted to be joining Plus Tate, allowing us to connect with and learn from other leading art organisations across the UK that are part of this respected network.  

 “We’re thrilled that DCA’s commitment to artists and audiences has been recognised, along with our work in diversity and inclusion, and our innovative and inspiring programme.”

 Cooper Gallery Principal Curator, Sophia Hao, said, “We are thrilled to be joining this network of leading art organisations across the UK.

 “For Cooper Gallery it demonstrates support for our passionate belief in the potential of contemporary arts to inspire alternative ways of thinking and doing, of embedding diversity and inclusion, and building collaboratively an ambitious and radical future for contemporary art.

 “We are delighted to become a Plus Tate member in the fantastic company of our friend DCA, with two Plus Tate members, Dundee garners another prestigious element in its thriving cultural economies”.