Private funding boost for V&A Dundee
17 January 2013
V&A at Dundee can today announce that it has raised £4million in private donations. The money represents another major step towards realising the project’s fundraising target of £45m.
The Scottish Government has already committed £15million in capital funding, and the Heritage Lottery Fund has given V&A at Dundee a first-phase pass on a bid of up to £9.2million. Further bids to other public bodies are on track and work will continue in developing discussions with prospective donors.
“The private donations announced today mean the project is well on its way to achieving the £45million fundraising target,” said Sandy Richardson, Development Director of V&A at Dundee.
“We are absolutely delighted to be able to make this announcement and are extremely grateful to those individuals and organisations who are supporting the project. It is a wonderful show of confidence in V&A at Dundee.”
Donations have been received from individuals, trusts and foundations. Among those who have donated are W S Philips Charitable Trust, Leng Charitable Trust, Misses Barrie Charitable Trust, Binks Trust, and Dunard Fund. Some donors have chosen to remain anonymous.
The funding announcement comes as the project displays its latest building plans as part of a new exhibition open to the public between the 17th and 19th January from 10am to 4pm at Bernard King Library, University of Abertay, Dundee.
Outline plans for the new site alongside the latest visuals and vision for the project will be on display. Visitors will be encouraged to share their views with staff across the three days.
Architect Kengo Kuma’s revised plans show V&A at Dundee moving shorewards - closer to the RSS Discovery and other city attractions and into the heart of Dundee’s redeveloped central waterfront. The plans also detail the way in which the iconic building, created of two separate structures arching up to meet each other will be built within two pools of water, reinforcing the connection between the building and the River Tay.
Philip Long, Director of V&A at Dundee, said, “We remain absolutely committed to developing an outstanding building to good time and on budget. Our proposal for the location of the building gives Dundee greater certainty of this, while retaining the integrity of Kengo Kuma\'s design for a new institution of national importance. We are looking forward to sharing with the public these latest plans, and are delighted to report such good progress is being made on fundraising.”
This is the first time the amended plans will be on show to the public. The revised planning application will be lodged with Dundee City Council later this year following the 12 week public consultation period.
