:: We Dundee

We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

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PEOPLE AND GROWING

Working in Dundee for the past 6 years I have noticed positive efforts to change the face of the city. This has been, on the whole, embraced by residents re-enforcing pride in where they live. Speaking to a number of residents, I have noted a growing wish to be more involved in how the improvements can be sustained and used in promoting Dundee as a progressive, thriving city moving with the times, and in many opinions exceeding expectation.

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

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I moved back to Dundee because of the emerging visual art scene. It is fresh and different from anything I have encountered elsewhere - guaranteed humour and good times! Brilliant live art has emerged from this city - including Gammamoth Institute, Pester + Rossi and Ganghut

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> What has struck me is the entrepreneurial culture - from life sciences to art, it can be seen all over the city

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

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Walk along the front is fantastic!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The creativity of the people of Dundee.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Nothing surprises me...thrilled to find Dundee is finally getting the recognition it deserves. It's always been Glasgow or Edinburgh, then later Aberdeen, to get any accolades going, Am I biased? Of course a little bit, just a little, but if we are/were really familiar with Dundee's history being a city of culture isn't a revelation.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The unrivalled cultural reach in the city. From the Rep to the DCA, and the Art Gallery; the frequent orchestral concerts and the Dundee Choral Union.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The sense of community that springs from nowhere in face of difficulties. The overwhelming positivity of community activists who will almost stop at nothing to improve their local area: see the local school or park get a new playground, tidy up the local burn, pull together to help people through difficulties, and generally have a good laugh while doing it all!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee, unofficially known as Fundee, due to the happy memories and good times had during my university days. Great people, culture and attitude makes each return visit something to look forward to.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> If you see Dundee in sunshine, it is a lovely place. Yet seeing it when it rains and all is grey and the Tay river whirls with the wild currents, that is what summons the bitter-sweet nostalgia of the past, of the industrial times and streetcars passing through the city center.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I lived in Dundee for a year. Its a peaceful city with full of awesomeness. Bicycling around the city and nearby places was something I loved and I did quiet often when I was there. To be more specific, walking/cycling towards the Tay Port was always been a pleasure to me.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> We moved here from Lancashire 18 months ago because my stepson had been studying at Abertay University and during the many visits to see him, we fell in love with Dundee and the surrounding area.

We decided that when my husband retired, we would move here permanently. So we did! We have definitely not regretted one second of it.

It is a lovely area, the people are very friendly, the city is buzzing with lots of events. The money which is being spent on developing the waterfront area will make the city more attractive to tourists and residents.

I am probably looking at the city with a fresh pair of eyes, but we absolutely love it here. We in one of the outlying villages but I work in the centre of Dundee and we would never go back to where we moved from because it is just so much better here!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The fantastic architecture in the city centre - it is easy to just walk past without looking up and seeing the beautiful buildings.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Discovering foody gems like 'The Cheesery' and 'T-Ann Cake' both on Exchange Street just a few hundred yards off the High Street.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> No matter where one lives in Dundee, a view of the silvery Tay is very close. The river Tay is like a woman - ever interesting, ever questioning, ever fascinating. To see the seals on the sandbanks, when the tide is low, and to watch the bottle-nose dolphins leap and play, early on a summer's evening is an unforgettable joy.

<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> 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 unexpected glimpses of the river Tay and the Fife countryside as you walk through the centre of the city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> 1) Old train tunnel through Law hill- could reopen as exhibit
2) River cruises- Tay is beautiful. Could get more like Taymara.
3) Mills Observatory- only free public one in UK & great fun at nights
4) James Chalmers- inventor of stamps. Could have international philately expo
5) James Bowman Lindsay- first inventor of lightbulb. Could have huge illuminated lightbulb sculpture or combine with-
6) Could have UK's first "Bellagio" style water fountain combining movement and classical music.
7) Jimmy Shand- lived in Dundee and bought his first accordian there. Could have National Accordian Championship like Glasgow's successful Piping Championships.
For more ideas- email me!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's proximity to the beach at Broughty Ferry and the wildness of the Angus Glens (and mountains!) The friendliness of the people and the number of different things available to do with my children on rainy days. Even though I have never lived there, (my extended family did and still does) every time I visit it feels like a homecoming!

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

Is a big family...
Is the place Dundonians don't want to leave...
Has it's own language of circles and backies...
Is familiar...

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The observatory: it's a trully remarkable place near the city centre. Also, the city should probably include St. Andrews and the rest of the region, since that would certainly help get more attention.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The variety of culture to be found in such a small geographic area.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The amazing views!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The views across the city and across the Tay are ever-changing and always inspiring. I'm sure few outsiders would think of Dundee as a beautiful city, but everyone who's been here knows.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The people, the history and the resiliance of the city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Many organisers and conference delegates visiting the city have been wowed by the friendliness of the people and how much Dundee has to offer outwith key cities such as Edinburgh or Glasgow. Dundee is becoming a vibrant and exciting cultural destination and I am delighted to be a part of it!!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The students are super uber friendly and engaging. They will always be the first to inject energy and spirit into any and all projects within the Dundee community which only strengthens the bond between the people of Dundee and its connection to its fine educational institutes.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I support popular culture in the form of William McGonagall.

How can he be the world's worst poet when his writing is still printed and repeated a century and a half after he wrote it?

I keep finding nineteenth century 'poetry' that does not appear to scan so it is not the overwhelming criticism that is widely made by those who patronize him.

His poetry should be celebrated without embarrassment.

McGonagall, Beano and Dandy would make a good counterweight to more highbrow contributions.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee Rep and the Law Hill

<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> Broughty ferry is a lovely wee town with nice pubs and restaurants! Something for everybody.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is one of the sunniest places in Scotland (when the sun actually shines) and looking out to the Tay, especially from the top of the law, is always breathtaking.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Nothing. I've always loved the city and the people in it. There's a lot of genuinely nice and helpful people on the city despite the image that is often portrayed by other parts of Scotland. There's nowhere in Scotland that I'd rather live.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A Great Place to live, with stuff always on!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> For such a small city Dundee punches well above it's weight when it comes to musical talent. Dundonains were involved in bands such as The Average White Band in the 1970's to to The View in the 2000's. I was also surprised to learn that the Blues Festival held in Dundee is the biggest free blues music festival in Europe.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The inspiring places that brought me to this city, Vanilla Ink Studios.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is my city now that I have retired and returned. Having spent so many years away, following the work, I have come back to warmth. Warmth in the south-facing slopes; warmth in the mellow sandstone of its fantastic buildings; warmth from the people I meet when I go into the Central Library, the University, the cafes and the shops. This is not the case in other cities and it warms my heart to think that I can now put down roots in this special place.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> What surprises me about Dundee is the buzz around town! Everyone is always cheery and chatty, and no one hides away from anything. The city is full of confident individuals which makes living in the city a beneficial experience for everyone! I come from a small village, but living in Dundee has certainly given my small town attitude a makeover!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The people are very caring and friendly. I was so overwhelmed by the caring of neighbours when my mother developed Vasular Dementia. They were so good at looking out for her before she eventually had to go into care. I nominated one of her neighbours (and she won) a Wave 102 neighbour of the year award a few years back.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love RARA and the pretty vacant showrooms and the creativity it encourages through selling vintage and pieces from local designers. It's like a little treasure chest.

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