Dundee’s bid to become UK City of Culture in 2017 has drawn support and offers of assistance and advice from across Europe, it has emerged.
The competition is set to be announced before Christmas and the city will put together its bid development group in the next few weeks.
Director of leisure and communities Stewart Murdoch said the level of support for the bid, which was officially announced last week, was ”spontaneous and generous”.
He said: ”In the European context, right out of the blue we got a call from someone who is involved in a bidding process for a Spanish city to be European City of Culture.
”They said they had been looking at Dundee online and would love to share experiences. We have had a couple of other contacts, one of whom is from Oslo, and they were aware that Dundee was bidding because we were speaking to them previously.
”Our contact there said they would like to develop their relationship with Dundee. It continues to be nice to get people who are not doing it for personal interest, they are doing it because they have a genuine goodwill towards Dundee.
”I can’t say I’ve experienced that warmth of goodwill for other things we have done. In that sense, it is a real tribute to the city.”
Mr Murdoch said contacts closer to home had also shown an overwhelming level of support for Dundee’s bid for the status.
He said: ”People across the UK have noticed the coverage, some because they have been networked into it and some because they have offspring at the University of Dundee and have contacted us.
”It’s inappropriate to mention individuals, but they are people who have been involved in other cultural events and culture bids. They have said that they would be delighted to provide backing and support and share their experience of bidding.
”We have responded and asked if we can network with them either virtually, or meet to talk about what they can contribute.
”Inevitably, the cultural agencies in Dundee and some of the national agencies who come to Dundee have been in touch saying it is great that we are doing this.
”They have said they will endorse it in whatever way they can and would like to make the year something to remember.”
Dundee councillors unanimously approved the bid for UK City of Culture status in 2017 at a meeting last week.
A bid development group will be set up comprising representatives of the city council and other public and private sector bodies in the Dundee Partnership.
Creative Sector Scotland will help to coordinate the bid at a cost of £15,000.