Scotland’s tourism chief says the V&A at Dundee could become as famous as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, delivering a major cash injection not just to the city but across Courier territory.
VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said the £45 million project offers a “huge opportunity” to attract people to the east coast, creating a lucrative knock-on effect to businesses and attractions.
Mr Cantlay, appointed by Scottish Government ministers last year, made the statement during a visit to Tayside on Wednesday where he met new director of the V&A Dundee Philip Long to discuss the landmark development.
In an interview with The Courier beforehand, he said he expects the iconic building, to be sited at Craig Harbour on the banks of the River Tay, to play a crucial role in marketing the country to visitors in the future, which in turn will help drive Scotland out of the financial doldrums.
“Around £2 billion worth of investment is ongoing or about to get under way in the tourism and leisure industry in Scotland, bringing thousands of new jobs and exciting new developments to the country,” he said.
“To be investing in tourism at this point in time, and with the kind of events that we are going to see such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and the Homecoming, all the way to 2014, leaves me to believe that this period over the next three years will potentially be what we are describing as the ‘winning years’ and an opportunity to change Scottish tourism.
“The V&A at Dundee is a fantastic project not just for Dundee, but for the whole of Scotland. Next year is the Year of Creative Scotland, which will shine a spotlight on this country’s creative assets, and I’m sure the V&A at Dundee will build upon and benefit from this legacy.”
Businesses in Angus, Perthshire and Fife will also see the benefits of V&A Dundee, Mr Cantlay said. The recent ‘staycations’ trend had created exciting opportunities to attract more people to the area for short breaks.
“It may be that you have someone who visits the V&A and then decides they want to play golf up the coast at Carnoustie, so there will be benefits to local tourism there,” he added.
“Dundee is accessible with its own airport, great rail and road links, and I believe there is a great opportunity to support different areas of leisure tourism. Other elements such as golf, the appeal of the Angus countryside, the wonderful coastline and the fair city of Perth all work together to create a quite special visitor destination.”
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“Certainly from a leisure tourism perspective, Dundee will be positioned like never before and VisitScotland intends to market that as far as it can.”
The V&A at Dundee will play a crowning role in the multi-million-pound redevelopment of the city’s waterfront. Approximately 500,000 visitors are expected to enter the stunning building in the first year, settling down to around 300,000 thereafter.
Spearheading the project is Mr Long, who took up his post as director of the V&A at Dundee earlier this month, having worked as senior curator of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh. He said the ambition of the project had been extraordinary.
“The V&A at Dundee is a project which we think can have a major impact on tourism for Dundee and for Scotland. I have come into a project where, although I am officially the first employee, there is an extraordinary legion of people who are already working hard on developing the project.”
Mr Long added, “Being in the city for a little over a week now, the enthusiasm and support for it is very impressive and will help us greatly in developing our plans.”
He added, “It will transform Dundee over the next 10, 20 years and will connect the city in a way that will be deeply impressive to those who come in increasing numbers.”
Ensuring there is a lasting legacy associated with the V&A is an important issue for Mr Long.
“With the V&A Dundee we want to develop a major centre of design in Scotland and that is important for Dundee in that it will contribute to Dundee’s perception as a place of great art and design and as a centre for cultural excellence.
“I hope very much that its future success is infectious and encourages the development of business and tourism in Dundee.”
The V&A at Dundee has been designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and received almost £5 million of Scottish Government funding earlier this year. Its main function will be to showcase Scottish design talent, provide a UK base for major international touring exhibitions and promote a wider understanding and application of design.
The building is on track to open in 2014. It is expected to create 900 local jobs as well as attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city every year. It is estimated the centre will generate over £5 million for the economy annually.