:: We Dundee

We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

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PEOPLE AND GROWING

Simonanna weekly art classes for adults held in the wonderful Art Angel are a fabulous resource. Simon Reekie and Anna Orton facilitate a supportive and inspiring environment to enable exploration of the creative process.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> it is known for its large cultural variance, the achitectural layout ofthe city is one that seems to fascinate. The location of the law hill, providing an enigmatic view of the whole city. The weather is one that is highly intriguing. known to be the sunniest city in the scotland, hail stones in august spices up the flavour of the Dundee life.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Its cinemas and theatres - such good quality in a smaller city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee doesn't deny its flaws, instead uses the wide range of skills that its diverse population has to offer to tackle problems. The range of voluntary and statuary services in Dundee amazed me when I started working in the voluntary sector, and I'm proud to say I've been part of it. The city has a bad reputation that it doesn't deserve, I've lived here for 4 years since coming for university and I'm reminded on a daily basis why I decided to stay!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Music, vibrant arts and culture, grassroots self organised cultural activities going on as well as via more established organisations like DCA and other venues

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> We've got two Universities, two football teams, two bridges and a professional ice hockey team a plethora of theatres and a number of fine museums. The people are proud, but not pushy. The city has one of the finest settings in the world and despite many of the mistakes of the sixties almost every other city made it is now going places and has a tremendous sense of optimism. Becoming City of Culture would be the icing on the cake of the cities rebirth.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> For a small city Dundee really punches above its weight in terms of its breadth of cultural activity and ambition and enthusiasm of its creative people.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> For me, the people are what make Dundee. They are as spirited group of individuals, who are friendly and welcoming to people in their city. They also celebrate everything their city offers depsite the negative image it has been wrongly given

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is a city of great cultural richness, but the area in which I feel it excels is that of theatre. Both professionally, with the ensemble at Dundee Rep, and in the amateur field, Dundee presents an amazing variety of theatrical performances. Recent amateur productions include "Cats", "The Sound of Music" and "Whistle Down the Wind" with "Miss Saigon School Edition", "Parade" and "Spamalot" still to come this year. Absolutely fabulous darling! l

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> friendly

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A place - Dundee Rep
An event - Rotary Young Musician of the Year
Person- David Robertson SOLAS and St Peter's Free Church
They all share Dundee's attitude -Hidden Quality, intellect. humour, aspiration and never above oneself.

<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> Dundee is a jewel in Scotlands crown. From the days of Jute, Jam & Journalism it has been reborn with the continuing development of the Waterfront. Looking forward with great excitment as the face of Dundee changes.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I feel Dundee women have a deserved reputation for being strong independamt women as they have been since the days of the jute mills

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Don't let the reputation fool you. It's way out of date. Dundee was my home for 2011 and 2012 and I enjoyed every minute of it. A beautiful setting for a city looking out across the silvery Tay. I met many good people and the town inspired me to be successful. A part of me will always be from Dundee.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's interesting that many people who come here to study end up making a real effort to stay.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I don't think this is classed as a "hidden secret" but it's something I hope will be highlighted as part of Dundee's cultural activity - the annual blues bonanza held at the end of June each year - purported to be the biggest free blues festival in Europe, and hugely popular with the artists and audiences alike.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Great place.....great past, present and future

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Love the hustle and bustle of Saturday afternoon. Always changing!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I am constantly surprised by additional facts about Dundee and Dundonians; from the Neolithic to the space age, Dundee has hidden its light under a bushel, and needs to be recognised for the amazing place it is.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design annual Degree Show at the University of Dundee. What a fantastic art and design teaching ethos and culture that exists within this Dundee institution to produce this showcase of talent each year.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Rama Thai restaurant is wonderful as is Parlour Cafe and the city is vegetarian/vegan friendly compared to most, especially of this size.

<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> Dundee is special !!! Because it the only place in the UK that houses a great and creative acting and dance company in one building . Dundee Rep Enssemble and Scottish Dance Theatre

Dundee Rep Theatre is a place to be proud of .!!!!!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee Science Festival which takes place in November reaches over 14,000 people over a two week period. Events are really diverse ranging from people like Ben Miller talking about his book - 'It's not rocket science' to family fun days and community events. This festival is only three years old and is Scotland's fastest growing science festival. Since its inception three years ago, more than 60 partners now join in annually to put on these amazing events and what is really exciting is that it isn't just scientists. Restaurateurs, hairdressers, museum workers, comedians, teachers, pupils, community leaders - to name a few - all come together to celebrate science, innovation and discovery. In a city like Dundee where science is part of Dundee's heritage and culture, I find this truly exciting.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> How we've grown up to be a city once again capable of inspiring, educating and encouraging our own, and those who become our own; proud of our past and confident about our future.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dolphins in the Tay,which I can see from my bedroom window.

<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 Street Art and the D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The people are very honest and there is no falseness around them, no pretense
Oh and did I forget to mention the CAHID centre, the best in its field in the uk by far

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> my god-daughter, Jennifer Gavin, was born in Dundee!!!..she's a credit to her birthplace!!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The incredible generosity of spirit in the people. Unseen at first, but just waiting to be uncovered.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> That I always want to go back. Having had the intention of going to Dundee and getting out as soon as possible, but the combination of arts, design and regeneration leaves me seeking a return every time I leave.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> As an 'honorary' Dundonian who has proudly worked here for nearly 20 years I feel sometimes that to the outside world the whole city is a hidden secret. From the beauty of the setting to the wealth of internationally sigificant heritage to the vibrancy of the cultural scene - all are waiting to be discovered. And when you add in the warm and welcoming people with their irrerevant sense of humour - a winning combination!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My favourite things about Dundee are the people and the accent! Friendly folk and a fab dialect! I'll hae fower pehs, twa sassidge rolls, a plen bridie and an ingin ane an a!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the art that is around the city. There are the penguin statues outside the overgate (which have santa hats put on them for Christmas); a scary looking dragon on the high street and of course desperate dan standing in the city center. My favourites are the more modern looking metal sculptures like the paper planes which are found across from the airport.
As for a hidden secret I really like the planet trail at the Mills observatory where you can walk across the beautiful park and walk from the sun to pluto. Each planet is represented by a rock with a plaque giving information about the planet. The distances between each planet is a scaled down model of reality so it can be hard to find Neptune!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Uplifting views over the river, great galleries, good range of music and theatre and the liveliness of an ever-changing student population married to the tradition and continuity of the long-term residents. All backed with good sport and outstanding opportunites to explore historic sites and a range of beautiful countryside.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Douglas Sports Centre gives the local community access to excellent facilities on their doorstep providing opportunities to be active in their community.

<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> The first thing that surprised and delighted me about Dundee was that it still has many of its old buildings and cobbled streets. It has a strong sense of history, but not in a way that holds it back. The historic city is cherished and involved, without sacrificing the space the new city needs to flourish.
Besides that, the support for the arts is obvious all over. This is most obvious in the city centre, and makes the space one that people care about - it's rare to find bollards, lamp-posts, benches and notice-boards that are all designed to be “nicer than they have to be" (to quote a friend).

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The girls football leagues & teams of all ages which play in Dundee and play team from the surrounding areas is a great opportunity for girls of all ages to improve and test their skills.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Over the last decade Dundee has shrugged off its Jute, Jam and Journalism image for one of a technology, media and bio-science leader. A pheonix rising from the ashes of its past.

Dundee's progress is unlimately recognised by the decision to site the V & A museum in the city which is a massive boost of confidence for the city. Dundee should be awarded the UK City of Culture 2017 as a recognition of its transformation and as an inspiration to other cities that they too can re-invent themselves.

<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> I am constantly amazed by the wealth of talent in the city. From music to art and beyond, I think the people of Dundee should be recognised for their famous cultural past and the amazing work that is happening right now.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has the most beautiful setting of any city I know. It is built on hills which allow amazing views of the Tay, sometimes from places you don't expect. The view driving down West Park Road never ceases to take my breath away. This, coupled with amazing green spaces and parks, makes it the perfect place to live...and walk, and run.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The view from the 'top of the Tower" - Dundee University's Tower Building has to be seen to be appreciated. There is a cafe on the Tenth Floor of the building, offering spectacular views across the Tay. On a nice day the stillness of the waters really does bring a feeling of inner calm.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love how Dundee is always sunny! It's great to be able to look out over the Tay and see the sun glisten off it and feel the warmth - it's a rare find in Scotland!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The amazing changes which have come about over the last decade

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> For a city of its size, Dundee has a wealth of cultural activities from the DCA, free lectures at the universities, theatres, an art gallery, to name but a few things - all within easy reach. The two universities and FE college have resulted ina youthful population and plenty of entertainment. Dundee is also ethnically diverse with with Polish, Russian, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Philippine supermarkets. I moved here last year and wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

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