One of Dundee’s UK City of Culture 2017 bid team has seen first-hand the impact of winning the competition from the title holders.
Michael Marra attended the “City of Culture: What are we Learning?” event in Derry/Londonderry last week, billed as a reflection and discussion on its year of events so far.
Mr Marra, of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, said: “I came away more enthusiastic for what the possibilities were for Dundee.
“The potential to use the title to address issues of poverty and social inclusion is pretty massive, because Derry has done just that.
“It has made it a better place to live. The potential is there for us if we want to grasp it.”
Mr Marra is part of the steering group hoping to secure the title for Dundee in four years’ time.
He said: “The title doesn’t come with a cheque. It comes with a title and the community has to use that title to create and deliver a programme.
“The general response from taxi drivers and punters on the street there was overwhelming. The people are taking pride in their place.
“It was genuinely impressive. Just hearing their perspective on how it’s gone so far for Derry was really interesting. They are so enthusiastic about it.
“It’s a fascinating place. Clearly for them, the political dimension is still massive. The general feeling is that they have made significant progress in that area.”
Dundee’s City of Culture 2017 team is putting together a proposed programme of events ahead of the final bid deadline on September 30.
Dundee is up against Leicester, Hull and Swansea Bay for the title.
A Dundee delegation will travel to Derry/Londonderry in November to put across the final case, with the winner expected to be announced within days of the presentations.