The man leading an ambitious £17.5 million plan to transform Dundee’s West Ward Works into a creative hub is hoping work will begin next year.
Speaking at The Circle Chit Chat event at DC Thomson’s Meadowside headquarters, project director David Cook outlined plans for the former book bindery on Guthrie Street.
Attendees heard of an ambitious bid to bring the iconic Maman sculpture to Dundee as part of the project.
Mr Cook said the plan was to house the bronze spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois in the former paper store.
It has previously been displayed in museums such as London’s Tate Modern, the Guggenheim in Bilbao and Tokyo’s Mori Art Museum.
“The V&A has already exceeded its expectations of having half a million visitors and something like this could add to that,” Mr Cook said.
Citing examples such as SWG3 in Glasgow, another planned use for the building is as a music venue.
Mr Cook added: “For bands in Dundee, they either have the back room of a pub, or the Caird Hall. When they’re in between those levels, they have to go to Glasgow or Edinburgh.
“A venue like this could help keep that talent in Dundee.”
The project is under the Tay Cities Deal umbrella and, if funding is secured, it is hoped work might begin late next year or in early 2021.
The event also heard from The Circle founder Kirsty Thomson, Jenny Paterson of Breakthrough Dundee, Jane Richardson of Changing the Chemistry and SCVO chief executive Anna Fowlie.