Dundee: One City, Many Discoveries

Once an industrial city home to a thriving jute industry, Dundee is now enjoying a spectacular cultural renaissance. But to truly appreciate the momentous social change taking place in the city, let’s delve into Dundee’s commercial past.

117 years ago, amidst the infernal roar of weaving looms in Dundee’s many jute factories and the clatter of ongoing construction at the city’s shipyards, the RRS Discovery first set sail on its maiden voyage to the Antarctic in 1901. The pioneering Discovery Expedition unearthed fascinating new research in geography, science, zoology and meteorology, expanding our collective knowledge and blazing the trail for future British Antarctic exploration.

This incredible voyage of discovery and the ship’s namesake now symbolise the enduring spirit of innovation, learning and determination at the heart of the City of Dundee. Despite the eventual decline of Dundee’s industrial past, discovery still remains at the very heart of the city’s modern identity. Today, Dundee is proudly promoted as ‘A City of Discovery’; the story of the RRS Discovery’s Antarctic Expedition is immutably woven into the very fabric of Dundee’s culture and maritime heritage. The penguin has become the unofficial mascot of Dundee, its presence in statues and sculptures across the city commemorating the Antarctic discovery of the Cape Crozier emperor penguin colony.

RSS Discovery & The V&A, photograph by Alicia Cots.

Now berthed proudly at the centre of the city’s waterfront, the RRS Discovery is nestled fittingly between the two cultural beacons of Dundee’s V&A Museum and the Discovery Point, a visitor centre for Antarctic exploration. This triptych of cultural landmarks presents a symbolic amalgamation of old and new: The recently built V&A offers the discovery of design, art and visual culture, whilst the RRS Discovery and the Discovery Point delve into Dundee’s industrial past. They offer a tantalising glimpse into the city’s maritime history and the bountiful wealth of knowledge discovered by the Antarctic Expedition.

In many ways then, the regenerated waterfront is perhaps a metaphor for discovery in Dundee. And the city itself is still very much a City of Discovery. A thriving hotspot for contemporary start-ups and design culture, there’s always something new and unexpected popping up in our creative city, from bars, to brunch spots to creative cafes. Dundee is continuously diversifying, regenerating, developing, innovating and disrupting. On BBC Radio 4’s Designing Dundee, the city was described as having a ‘rebellious heart’, and perhaps there’s something fittingly poetic about this.

We are a city of disrupters, innovators, creatives and change makers; we will never settle for less. And in a quietly confident, self-assured gesture, Dundonians are continuously defying traditional and outdated perspectives of their city, showcasing all that is great in Scotland, from digital design, to creative start-ups, and pioneering research in medical science.

Once the butt of many crass jokes, Dundee has long been eclipsed by the cultural hotspots of Glasgow and Edinburgh. But perceptions of Dundee are suddenly starting to change. Something has shifted; people are beginning to notice our creative little city, nestled on the banks of the silvery Tay. Dundee is being written about in the likes of Vogue, GQ, Lonely Planet, Wall Street Journal, and ICON. New, sparkling narratives and glistening headlines are being woven about The City of Discovery: ‘Britain’s coolest little city’; ‘Scotland’s coolest city’; a ‘hipster’s haven’; a worldwide ‘hot destination’. Dundee has recently been ranked 5th in the 10 hottest destinations in the world, amongst holiday hotspots such as Grenada and teeming metropolises the likes of Shanghai. But why this sudden interest in our post-industrial town?

DC Thomson Building, Dundee, photograph by Alicia Cots.

Formerly renowned as a being a jute hotspot, the birthplace of Keiller’s jam and the iconic publishing house DC Thomson (which still thrives today), Dundee has since outgrown its antiquated adage of the three J’s of Victorian era industry. But with an estimated £1 billion waterfront regeneration, there are perhaps two new letters threatening to take their place: V & A.

For many, the V&A symbolises a beacon of cultural change, social transformation and, of course, discovery. And it's certainly the main catalyst for putting Dundee front and centre on the world stage, presenting an opportunity for showcasing all the other wonderful things the city has to offer.

But perhaps the V&A has not come to Dundee, but rather Dundee has come to the V&A. Lest anyone forget, there is so much more to Dundee than our beloved design museum; the city is greater than the sum of its parts. Tucked away within the city’s quaint alleys and cobbled closes is a colourful explosion of artwork, as numerous street art trails infuse Dundee’s once forgotten, empty spaces with new life and vibrancy. Downtown Dundee is a thriving hotspot for ambitious new businesses, pop-ups, artisan coffee shops and independent retailers the likes of Abandon Ship Apparel and Oh Hello Vintage. It's also home to Hard Grind, one of the most popular mens' barbers in the UK. And innovative enterprises such as Creative Dundee work to connect and amplify the city, whilst museums such as the McManus Galleries invite visitors to explore the city's finest art galleries and natural history collections, housed within a spectacular piece of Gothic Revival architecture.

The McManus Galleries, Dundee, photograph by Alicia Cots.

As Dundee lovers and ambassadors of the city, we have an obligation to scream and shout that we are so much more than just the V&A, and so much more than the old Victorian epithet. Dundee is one city, full of many wonderful discoveries.

---

A special thanks to Alicia Cots for the beautiful imagery in this post. Make sure to follow her Instagram account @distinosdistantes for some gorgeous travel photos!

If you fancy finding out more about Scotland's coolest city, and where to eat, drink and visit in Dundee, you can head over to the Urban Dundee archives.