Carmichael praise for Dundee's 'phenomenal' effort
Scottish Secretary praises Dundee's City of Culture efforts.
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has paid tribute to the efforts of Dundee despite being unsuccessful in its bid to become the 2017 UK City of Culture.
The Culture Secretary Maria Miller announced today that Hull has won the competition involving the City of Discovery, Leicester and Swansea Bay.
Mr Carmichael stressed the importance of ensuring that the work Dundee’s bid team has put into the UK City of Culture competition is used to aid the regeneration work that is being undertaken within the city.
He said:
I am very disappointed that Dundee’s bid to becomes 2017 UK City of Culture has been unsuccessful. The outcome does not change my view that this was a fantastic bid with an energy and creativity of which the city of Dundee can be proud.
The whole of Dundee can however take great heart from the way it has united behind this bid and for the energy, inspiration and pride that the UK City of Culture competition has generated throughout the city.
I would like to praise Dundee’s bid team who placed a phenomenal amount of effort into this bidding process. They have done so much to ensure that the cultural traits of this great city were displayed to as wide an audience as possible across the whole of the UK.
It is important that today’s disappointment does not overshadow the tremendous work that has is underway to redevelop the city. Through the £1bn waterfront development, the construction of an iconic V&A museum and a thriving artistic and academic community, Dundee’s transformation is very much culturally led.
In the coming weeks, months and years ahead we must ensure that the immense work the bid team and indeed many people across the city have undertaken in this competition is used to aid this transformation. As Secretary of State for Scotland I will ensure that the UK Government is doing everything we can do to help Dundee’s on-going redevelopment.