Dundee is to compete for the title of European Capital of Culture 2023.
Council leader Ken Guild also confirmed that Dundee will fully endorse Perth’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2021, a title Dundee narrowly missed out on in 2013 to Hull.
The announcement is linked with the Tay Cities Deal partnership between Perth and Dundee.
Wroclaw in Poland and San Sebastian in Spain are the current title holders, and it is understood that Dundee could be competing with Leeds and Milton Keynes from the UK and another city from Hungary.
Previous UK winners include Liverpool, who were awarded the title in 2008, and Glasgow, who were winners in 1990.
The award aims to “celebrate the cultural features Europeans share” and also highlight “the richness and diversity” of cultures in Europe.
According to the European Commission, previous winners have experienced a boost in tourist numbers, city wide regeneration and a raised international profile.
Councillor Guild noted that although he is not expecting the UK to leave the European Union after Thursday’s referendum, “Brexit” would be “bad news all round” for Dundee and its bid.
He said: “Bidding for the title of European Capital of Culture is a way of reaching out beyond the UK and in to Europe and the world.
“I’m not expecting an exit from Europe but if the UK suddenly decides that we are no longer part of Europe, then that would be bad news all round.
“I hope, come Thursday, that folk will have the common sense to vote to remain part of the EU.
“That is the view of every party representative on Dundee City Council
“It should be noted that one of the European Capitals of Culture, Stavanger in Norway, won the title and they are of course outside of the European Union.
“I think though that it cost them a great deal financially, so I certainly hope that we will still be in the European Union when the time comes.
“With our colleagues from Perth, we are looking at using the money available from the Tay Cities Deal to carry out infrastructure changes and also make sure that we introduce social justice in the city.
“This is very much in keeping with the fairness commission report, which will also be going before the council.
“We have a lot of very positive things to be getting on with at the moment and we are hoping to have the full support of the council at the meeting this coming Monday.”
The Tay Cities Deal is a working partnership between local authorities in Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross that will assist in bringing “fair economic growth” to the Tayside area.
According to Mike Galloway, Dundee City Council’s city development director, the “fantastic” deal will have an impact 10 times greater than the V&A.
