IT IS “only fair” that Dundee gets the same public cash injection as other Unesco cities in Scotland, according to a city councillor.
Richard McCready has called on the Scottish Government to allocate extra funding through Creative Scotland to Dundee to support the work of the city as a Unesco City of Design.
Edinburgh Unesco City of Literature has received almost £100,000 from the arts body this year while Glasgow Unesco City of Music has received £50,000.
Mr McCready said: “I was delighted when Dundee was named as a Unesco City of Design. This is an amazing accolade for our city.
“It is important for Dundee, and indeed for the whole nation, that Dundee’s role as a Unesco City of Design is supported adequately.
“It is also important that a programme of events is brought forward which are meaningful to the citizens of Dundee and which also attract visitors to our great city.”
Mr McCready has now written to the cabinet secretary for culture, Fiona Hyslop, to ask her to consider funding design events in Dundee.
He said: “Edinburgh and Glasgow both have Unesco designations, for literature and music, respectively, and receive funding via the Scottish Government’s arts body, Creative Scotland, to support that work.
“As things stand Dundee is going to look to fund the Unesco City of Design programme from existing budgets.
“It seems to me only fair that Dundee should be treated in the same way as Edinburgh or Glasgow and should receive external funding for this programme.
‘I am calling upon the Scottish Government to step up to the mark and support this important work in our city.
“I am writing to Fiona Hyslop, the cabinet secretary for culture, asking her to look at ways of giving extra funding to Dundee for this important work.”
A Creative Scotland spokesperson said: “We are working with Dundee City Council to develop and take forward a place partnership plan.
“The Place Partnership will be rooted in and shaped by Dundee’s broader cultural strategy to improve the cultural life of its communities.
“We are looking forward to launching the Place Partnership once further discussions and developments around the plan have taken place with the cultural sector and communities in Dundee.”