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| Creative Dundee | |
|---|---|
| Name | Creative Dundee |
| Formation | 2013 |
| Type | Arts charity |
| Headquarters | Dundee |
| Region served | Dundee and Dundee City Region |
| Leader title | Chief Executive |
| Leader name | Andy Cannon |
Creative Dundee is a Dundee-based arts development organisation that supports cultural practitioners, creative industries, and community initiatives across Dundee and the surrounding region. It forms part of a network of Scottish cultural bodies and regional development agencies working with artists, makers, and creative enterprises to regenerate post-industrial urban areas and promote cultural tourism. The organisation collaborates with local authorities, higher education institutions, and national arts agencies to deliver programmes, venues, and events.
Creative Dundee was established in 2013 amid regeneration efforts in Dundee that involved stakeholders such as Dundee City Council, Scottish Government, and urban developers linked to projects like the V&A Dundee and Dundee Waterfront. Early partnerships included collaborations with Abertay University, University of Dundee, and Dundee Contemporary Arts, building on civic initiatives that followed industrial transitions exemplified by companies such as Caledonian Railway, jute manufacturers, and the shipbuilding heritage memorialised by museums and trusts. The organisation emerged in the same period as cultural milestones including the opening of the V&A Dundee, the UNESCO City of Design recognition, and festivals such as the Dundee Science Centre programmes and Discovery Festival. Over time Creative Dundee has worked alongside entities like Creative Scotland, EventScotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Culture Perth and Kinross to amplify Dundee’s creative profile.
The organisation’s mission focuses on nurturing creative talent, enabling cultural enterprises, and connecting creative ventures with audiences, funders, and civic partners. Activities link practitioners to resources provided by Creative Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Arts Council structures while engaging public bodies including NHS Tayside and Dundee City Council cultural strategies. It supports venues and institutions such as Dundee Rep Theatre, Scottish Dance Theatre, and McManus Galleries, and engages in mapping and promotion efforts alongside VisitScotland, Historic Environment Scotland, and British Council programmes. Engagement also spans festivals and events like Dundee Literary Festival, T in the Park partners, and cultural routes that include Historic Environment projects.
Creative Dundee runs programmes that range from business support and mentoring to public realm commissions and residency schemes. Initiatives have intersected with institutions such as Tay Cities Region initiatives, Scottish Enterprise, and Skills Development Scotland to offer workforce development, while artists-in-residence and maker workshops have been delivered with Dundee Contemporary Arts, The McManus, and Dundee Science Centre. Projects include collaborations with comic and gaming sectors linked to Dundee’s digital heritage, working with studios and companies tied to titles and events comparable to the legacy of Dundee’s association with publishing houses, development studios, and conventions. Creative Dundee has also facilitated place-making commissions and pop-up activity coordinated with Riverside Museum partners, Dundee Civic Trust, and regeneration projects influenced by international cultural models like Bilbao’s Guggenheim and Glasgow’s Merchant City revitalisation.
Funding and partnerships have involved national funders such as Creative Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and UK Research and Innovation-linked cultural research projects, together with local funding from Dundee City Council and in-kind support from Abertay University and the University of Dundee. Corporate and philanthropic partners have included foundations and trusts active in Scottish cultural funding alongside event partners such as EventScotland and VisitScotland. Cross-sector collaborations include links to cultural producers and venues like Dundee Rep Theatre, Scottish Ballet, and Dundee Contemporary Arts, as well as business organisations such as Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce and regional development agencies including Tay Cities Deal stakeholders and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Creative Dundee’s activity has been credited with contributing to Dundee’s reputation in sectors associated with design, digital media, and cultural tourism, complementing national recognitions such as UNESCO City of Design and regional investments in the V&A Dundee. The organisation’s programmes have been cited in discussions involving cultural policy makers from Creative Scotland, local councillors, and civic organisations like Dundee Civic Trust, and have featured in coverage by media outlets and cultural commentators who follow the creative clusters model used in cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester. Awards and acknowledgements have come via partnerships that intersect with national festival calendars, public art commissions, and heritage listings coordinated with Historic Environment Scotland.
Creative Dundee operates as a not-for-profit organisation with a board of trustees drawn from sectors including the arts, higher education, and business, reflecting links to institutions like Abertay University, University of Dundee, Dundee Rep Theatre, and local enterprise bodies. Leadership includes a chief executive who liaises with funders such as Creative Scotland, National Lottery, and local authorities, while project teams coordinate with cultural partners including Dundee Contemporary Arts, McManus Galleries, and Scottish Ballet. Strategic planning aligns with regional frameworks like the Tay Cities Region strategy and national cultural policy frameworks driven by Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government cultural remit.
Category:Arts organisations based in Scotland Category:Culture in Dundee Category:Charities based in Scotland