The Dundee Cultural Recovery Fund will support cultural institutions through financial difficulties and bring tourists back to the area

Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 04 May 2021

The £1m grant will be split between five cultural institutions in Dundee Credit: RHPL
The Dundee Cultural Recovery Fund - a fundraising effort set up to support Dundee’s arts and cultural venues during the COVID-19 pandemic - has reached its £1m (US$1.3m, €1.15m) target.
The funds will be split between five cultural institutions in the Scottish city, including V&A Dundee, which led the campaign; The Dundee Heritage Trust; Dundee Rep; Dundee Science Centre; Dundee Contemporary Arts; and Scottish Dance Theatre.
Tim Allan, chair of V&A Dundee, attributes the success of the initiative to a “group of like-minded organisations, which came together to harness the generosity of private individuals and trusts to support the delivery of world-class culture.”
Allan also described the five beneficiary organisations as “culturally, economically and socially invaluable” to Dundee, adding that each “brilliantly demonstrates the sense of common purpose and innovation for which the city and Scotland are well known.”
Tourism boost
As well as supporting these institutions through financial difficulty, the fund’s ultimate goal is to bring tourists back to the area as lockdown restrictions ease. According to research commissioned by the city council, tourism was worth more than £10m (€11.5m, US$13.9m) a month to the city of Dundee pre-pandemic.
This is reflected in the pre-COVID success of the V&A Dundee, which in its first year in operation welcomed more than double the number of visitors anticipated and generated £21m (€21.2m, US$29.21m) for Dundee, and a further £75m (US$104.3m, €86.5m) to the Scottish coffers.
“Culture has a huge value for the city of Dundee and the reopening of popular Dundee attractions will help bring people and investment to the city as lockdown restrictions ease,” said Dundee City Council leader, John Alexander.
The Northwood Charitable Trust, donated £500,000 (US$693,600, €575,550) towards the fund, with trustee Christopher Thomson saying: “Dundee is renowned for its rich creative heritage and our many cultural attractions will play an essential role in the recovery of the city’s local economy in the months ahead.”
Dundee Contemporary Arts (pictured) will be one of the beneficiary organisations CREDIT: RUTH CLARK
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