Dundee should capitalise on the buzz that has been created by its bid to become UK City of Culture 2017 even if it is not successful.
That was the message from UK Culture Minister Ed Vaizey during a visit to the city. The minister met members of the team behind the bid at Dundee Contemporary Arts after flying into Dundee Airport.
It was his second visit to Dundee, following on from a tour of the local computer games industry last year.
Commenting on the ever-changing face of the waterfront he said: “It’s amazing, it’s the third biggest regeneration project after Wembley and the Olympics.
“People are very excited. There’s a real buzz about this bid, it’s great to see Dundee in this competition.”
He said Dundee has a “good chance of winning” but if it doesn’t he hopes the city will carry on with some of the projects outlined in the bid.
“Win or lose I hope that Dundee will capitalise on what’s happened,” he said.
“It’s already pulled together this wonderful regeneration project.”
Dundee is competing against Leicester, Hull and Swansea Bay for the UK City of Culture 2017 title.
Mr Vaizey said: “Luckily for me the decision is being taken by the panel so politicians can’t influence the decision or be blamed for it.”
However, he said coming to see the four shortlisted cities for himself was very informative. Stewart Murdoch, the man spearheading Dundee’s bid, stressed that Mr Vaizey will be visiting the three other cities as well as Dundee.
“It’s a statement of his commitment to the four shortlisted cities,” he said.
“We are quite clear the minister will visit all four, but he’s been here before and he’s had this fantastic flight over the city.”
The minister’s visit follows that of the new Scottish Secretary last week. Alistair Carmichael backed the Dundee bid saying it “certainly deserves” to win the crown.
Dundee’s bid was submitted at the end of September and the city will find out on November 20 whether its dream of becoming the UK City of Culture will become a reality.
Dundonians will have to wait six days for the result after the Dundee bid team present their case to the judges in Derry-Londonderry the current UK City of Culture next Thursday.
A team of eight will travel there along with teams from the other competing cities.