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We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

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PEOPLE AND GROWING

The fantastic riverside walk between the boatyard along grassy beach to Broughty Ferry Castle

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> When I first was considering studying art at Dundee I took a train journey up for the open day. The conductor was horrible refused to accept my card and was very unhelpful when I asked what I could do as I had no money on me. A stranger sitting next to me offered to pay my fare and I could repay her when we got off at Dundee. Once we were in Dundee and I had given the money back she turned out to be an art student and took me to the art college! Dundee's friendliness inspires me!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee City...... Scotland's last 'Big Toon'. Where else would you want to be?

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Not a 'hidden secret' but Dundee is the sunniest city in Scotland and with the Law and a walk along the riverside on a nice day it is beautiful!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The evolution and growth of the last 10 years.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The resilience of the city and the people - we keep geting knocked down and we still show a unity to keep going until we succeed.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The burgeoning independent film scene (Closure, Location Scouting among others), the home of Yuck'n'Yum,lots of local bands, Ickle Film Fest, the Dundee Comics Day, the creativity of Dundonians clearly attracts more creativity.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the sense of community Dundee has, it's something you don't find in many places. I noticed this when speaking about Dundee to people from other places around Scotland.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Small city, big influence

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Cafes, shops and an eclectic mix of people from every walk of life. Dundee has a whole lot to offer and is the ideal place for students. I have lived here for 4 years now and have had the privilege of seeing Dundee grow up and mature to be recognised as one of the leading cities in Scotland.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It appears to be a small city. That it is but it is filled with friendly people and has scenic treasures everywhere. Not many cities have the beauty of Dundee, the buzz of the university and kind people on every corner. Definite selling point is the sunset over the Tay; beautiful!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The innovative, DIY attitude!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> There are a number of extremely talented amateur dramatic and musical groups and societies in the city. Dundee Rep boasts an excellent professional repertory company which, I believe, is unique in Scotland and rare in the UK as a whole.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I enjoy the fact that the supporters of both big teams in the city get along so well before and after the Derby's in the local pubs. Both sets of fans want their team to win with a passion, but after the game they enjoy a pint and a chat together win,lose or draw.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Andrew Wighton bequeathed one of the world's finest collections of Scottish national and traditional music to the City in 1861. It has been preserved by the Council in the Central Library and the music is performed regularly by Friends of Wighton.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The best friendships I've had have been those which constantly redefine themselves over a long period of time. That's the way I feel about Dundee. As someone who was born here, Dundee is a place that has meant a variety of different things for me as I have grown older particularly within the arts. The Dundee Schools music programme is a great way to get people involved in music from a young age, giving you the confidence to develop into a talented young adult. The music scene has always been fantastic, with places such as beat generator, putting on local talent and the recent programming of WestFest during the summer months this is something that continues to grow. Music is just one example of how Dundee thrives within the arts, we have the literary Festival, the science festival and a festival of shorts for designed purely for children. This is unique as far as I am aware. The talent is not just imported here from all over the globe, it also nurtured here, in the young which is extremely important.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The most exciting thing for me recently was discovering all about the law tunnel! It would be amazing to be able to see it and walk through a piece of history that had been shut away for so long.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is a place that is reinventing itself.
Arts health, education, culture, history, geography and the people's of Dundee all contribute to to a strong identity and sense of
place for the city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee Voluntary Sector - caring, accessable and the life and soul of the city

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Braithwaites coffee shop. It's like stepping back in time!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Personally, I feel that Dundee is an amazing city that has a lot to offer. Walking up Law Hill to the top to see the most beautiful sights. You can walk along the beach in broughty ferry which is a personal favourite of mine during the summer. There's a lot of parks to sit and relax in the summer. The people are always kind and helpful when in need. I have lived here for the past 3 years whilst at the university and it has to be one of the best experiences I have had so far!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I have studied twice in Dundee and lived there for three years. It's a friendly welcoming place, full of real people. I knew very little about the place when I went there but would recommend it to anyone. It is an unassuming place with lots to offer. The fun is in discovering all the things that make Dundee unique whether it is historical, cultural, the scenery or the weather!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Exchange st. It just seemed to come from no where. A lovely hub with an amazing vintage shop and best t Ann cake in the city!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Returning to Dundee after a trip down south - crossing the Tay Bridge in the train and marveling at the beauty of the firth on either side of me.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Hidden Secrets- Doghouse, Legends, the scientific collections a Dundee Uni.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I loved Dundee's people and their accent. It took getting used to but I soon came to love it and the many words I never knew exsited.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Much more to see and do in Dundee than people realise. I love to watch the seals on the sandbanks near the bridges when the tide is out.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> We moved to Dundee from just north of London and we were surprised by the strength of community. Everyone in our street got on and took the time for small kindnesses like helping out the old folk with shopping when the snow was bad. We have taken the attitude with us since we have moved abroad.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Whilst I don't claim to know Dundee well enough to comment on the 'hidden secrets', I do plan to move there and find them out. What I like about Dundee is that it is not too big, is walkable in and around, has a lovely waterfront location and is brimming with potential. There are some cracking restaurants and lovely vistas all across the city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Great variety of culture

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Just love my home town. No matter where I go, it doesn't live up to Dundee!!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Art and music in Dundee is imbued with a strong DIY ethic. The best thing that encapsulates this is the local art collective Tin Roof - newly established and expanding further across cultural territories; Tin Roof provides Dundee with a platform for artists, and musicians alike. Audiences and general appreciators of culture can expect the intimacy and refreshing rawness of grass-roots level art and music.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has an incredible richness in the arts and science, and a thriving live music scene. Many fantastic musicians reside in Dundee and perform regularly. Dundee hails one of the best all female bands in Scotland and the UK over the past 2 decades - the very talented "adam812", who were asked by Henny King to represent Dundee City and perform at the Octcentenery Awards in the city square and in London at the St James Palace Hotel. Adam812 - one of Dundee's hidden secrets!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I think we have great potential to visitors and locals in that there are great closie tours of Victorian and medeaval histories. Stuart Walker does these tours and could speak for ages on the history of Dundee but we don't do enough of these tours and promote our own town. We could do more and shout about our town from the rooftops but tend to hide and don't push ourselves enough.
Dundee folk don't shout about their town and what it has, like the Macmanus Galleries, The Unicorn, The Discovery. Up wi the bonnets of Bonnie Dundee!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The people are very friendly and Dundee is like a large village with many hidden features that you keep on finding the more you explore.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I say the Dundee museum of transport will be a be good for the city hopeful in 2017 Dundee will get city of culture i love my Dundee as a city becuse the past what that city got.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Twenty odd years ago I was first acquainted with Dundee as a part of the design team for the Discovery project and I now have a home just outside of the city. My main responsibility was the design of things on-board the ship itself which included the flock of sheep (not as big as it could have been) on the shore, etc. It was a period of great energy and creativity, but was grounded in solid research.
At that time there was a lot of talk about how good things in the city could be, and most of it has happened plus a lot more. The later things such as the V&A are an extension of that vision for culture whilst not loosing sight of the past. This is the core of Dundee.
The whole place has a 'life' to it and all of its attractions are not only for visitors, but are of relevance to all who live there.
I am thinking in particular of the McManus, the DCA & the Rep'. It has a dynamic student population and a world class Art & Design School in The Duncan of Jordanstone.

The proposed long term plan for the waterfront looks as though it should work well, and take advantage of the truly wonderful river aspect. But whilst I am glad to see the back of the Council Tower, various blocks of flats & the Olympia pool, the Railway station & the ex Stakis/Hilton might be a loss in terms of architectural progression - not all '70ies was bad.

The Unicorn needs to be integrated much more into the scheme of things, it is a gem, and perhaps a museum of transport and the docks, should be considered, in particular as unlike at a lot of other places, the docks still work.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The views from so many angles are amazing. Both looking in and looking outwards. The struggles too, of many people such as my Granny who worked in the Jute Mills and the struggles too, of many today who can't find work, but keep striving despite the setbacks. It's not just the views, but the people. Their determinism to help others, even when they have so little, brings out the best. I've seen it often in the most surprising places.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The hidden gems of architecture scattered around the city along with the green spaces as your drive into Dundee along the river.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My birthplace and although I have not lived in the UK for 32 years when I return it is still my home. I have watched it's development over the years and at times have shaken my head at decision made by the planners and council. That being said I believe the new development plans are on the right track. The town has always been extremely supportive of the culture of scotland and of its own heritage.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is a city of great poets both famous and as yet undiscovered. From the Wedderburns in the Reformation to renowned contemporary writers like Don Paterson, John Glenday and Tracy Herd. I would very much include McGonagall in that list! It's also a place where the Scots language has been celebrated, in the work of Ellie McDonald, Matthew Fitt, and the late Harvey Holton.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> For quite a small, old industrial city Dundee has so much to offer. From the indepedantly run gallery and cinema the DCA to the recently renovated McManus Gallery. There is also a whole host of events going on week to week in smaller venues such as the Generator projects and Tinroof... This place is alive with art and culture which I believe will continue to grow and grow

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> If you open the door into libraries, you will find creative writing sessions for children, adults and young people, manga sessions, video games workshops for young creatives to develop their own games, as well as regular author events.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> that soon dundee will be reborn with the v&a, new olympia, new station..the list goes on - it's scotland's most exciting city and it's developing so fast and refreshing itself into a truly modern scottish city. the real hidden secret is the people - friendly and passionate about their city and the potential that is being realised

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the setting on the river and the way the sky continually changes but what gets me every time is the unexpected humour of the people.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Camperdown park is a great area for the kids and for a lovely walk just as a couple. my favourite place to walk in dundee is right along riverside drive and along to city quay it is a beautiful walk seeing both the tay road bridge and the tay rail bridge in the evening all lit up. the caird hall is fantastic the square outside is a lovely setting for a cuppy at the cafe and just to relax in the square.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has often been classed as a subculture. I feel that it is a dynamic city which is thriving and growing. This is evidenced in the city centre where empty shops are at a minority and in out of town shopping centres which are fully populated. Dundee is fast becoming an important centre for science and the arts with the v& a coming to Dundee. I love Dundee and am proud to be a citizen.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has a spectacular location that amazes people who visit for the first time. There is a lots of green space in the city with lovely well maintained parks. There is something for everyone in Dundee with concerts and exhibitions of various kinds and good shopping. The people are friendly and will go out of their way to help you. A great place to live.

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