3D Festival to celebrate museum opening
11 May 2018
A two-day festival celebrating design, music and performance will mark the opening of V&A Dundee and its place at the heart of Dundee’s transformed waterfront.
The 3D Festival – a name that pays homage to Dundee, design and the city’s spirit of discovery – will be co-designed by young people from across Dundee working alongside Scotland’s largest promoter and events company, DF Concerts and Events.
The festival will take place in Slessor Gardens at the centre of the Dundee waterfront, with the new museum designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma forming an impressive backdrop. It is supported by EventScotland, part of the VisitScotland Events Directorate, and by Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018 event fund.
The festival will open on Friday 14 September, the eve of the museum’s official opening, with a one-off outdoor performance involving music, design and dance. It will continue on Saturday 15 September with family activities, hands-on design workshops, music and creative collaborations on the main stage.
Up to 20,000 people from Dundee, Scotland and around the world are expected to attend the 3D Festival, a key event in Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018. The Year of Young People 2018 is a year-long programme of events and activities that will give young people in Scotland the opportunity to show the world what they are made of.
V&A Dundee’s Young People’s Collective, a group of 16 to 25-year-olds from across the city, have spent the last six months planning the festival and will continue to help shape everything from who will perform to the stage sets.
The full festival line-up will be announced over the summer period. Members of the public are encouraged to sign up to V&A Dundee’s e-news on www.vandadundee.org for the latest news and updates about the 3D Festival and the chance to register for tickets when they are released.
Maryam Deeni, a member of V&A Dundee’s Young People’s Collective, said: “This is an opportunity for us to do something great and we want everyone to feel part of it. The opening celebrations will show off the new museum and will be a chance to highlight the great things that have been going on in Dundee for a long time. The festival will be a combination of what the city is proud of and the exciting things still to come.
“It’s been awesome being part of V&A Dundee’s Young People’s Collective, a group that is really enthusiastic and passionate about the city.”
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, said: “The Scottish Government has been a long-time supporter of V&A Dundee and the Year of Young People has put young people at the heart of this ground-breaking project. Our nation’s young people are full of brilliant creative ideas and V&A Dundee’s 3D Festival is a unique opportunity for them to harness these talents and truly make their mark on the future of Dundee and Scotland’s flourishing art, design and creative scene.”
Dundee City Council leader Councillor John Alexander said: "This is an exciting time for our city and we are building an unprecedented international profile ahead of the opening of V&A Dundee.
"In the Year of Young People, it is so inspiring to see that young people themselves are playing a central part in the celebration plans. This event will capture the spirit of innovation and ambition that is driving Dundee ahead."
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the celebrations to mark the opening of V&A Dundee. Co-designed by local young people as part of Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, the two-day festival will be a wonderful celebration of design, music and performance, showcasing everything that Dundee and the V&A represents.”
The 3D Festival will see DF Concerts & Events, which is responsible for major Scottish live music events including TRNSMT Festival, Summer Sessions and T in the Park, return to the city where it was founded more than 35 years ago.
Geoff Ellis, Chief Executive of DF Concerts & Events, said: “We are honoured to be working with V&A Dundee on what will be a globally significant event. We’re truly excited about unveiling the line-up and details for the opening weekend - this is a very big deal for Scotland and in particular for the regeneration of Dundee, cementing its reputation as a city of design.”
