Dundee City Council is considering applying to UNESCO for creative city status in media arts.
Only 27 cities have creative city status including Edinburgh and Glasgow and only Lyon, in France, has creative city status in media arts.
Dundee’s bid, which will be assessed by UNESCO director general Irina Bokova, is based on the city’s key role in the video games industry and the redevelopment of the McManus gallery and museum.
City development committee convener Will Dawson said creative city status would boost Dundee’s international profile, help build momentum for projects like the V&A at Dundee, and develop talent in the city.
He said, “There would be many benefits for Dundee that would follow from the attainment of this prestigious status. I believe that the city would put forward a very strong case based on a number of key cultural and economic drivers.
“Our pioneering computer games sector sits alongside the creation of McManus as a 21st-century museum in meeting the requirements for media arts.
“The interest that is building in the V&A at Dundee project is also a very important piece in the jigsaw of the city’s transformation. The backing of UNESCO status would also bolster our efforts to promote Dundee to a global audience.”
Councillors will discuss the matter at a meeting of the city development committee on Monday.