V&A Dundee to receive £2.6m from UK Government

V&A Dundee will receive £2.6m in UK Government capital funding it was announced yesterday by the Scottish secretary on a visit to the museum. The investment will be used to remodel and extend the Scottish Design Galleries.

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt pledged funding for V&A Dundee in last year's spring budget, with the museum set to receive a share of a £100m pot for Levelling Up projects alongside other “nationally significant” culture initiatives at the National Railway Museum in York and National Museums Liverpool.

The grants faced uncertainty following the July general election, when chancellor Rachel Reeves' first budget indicated that she would scrap the previous government's unfunded spending commitments, including the Levelling Up Culture and Capital Regeneration projects. The funding has now been recommitted as part of the new government's Plan for Change.

Speaking after his visit, Scottish secretary Ian Murray said: “It’s fantastic news that the UK Government is investing £2.6 million in V&A Dundee. It is a great attraction, right at the heart of Dundee’s waterfront, bringing great benefits to the city. This funding will help the museum celebrate the very best of Scottish design and make the experience for visitors even better.

“We have taken the necessary steps to mend our public finances in order to provide this funding and a record settlement for the Scottish Government, and I am very pleased that we are delivering this investment in this important national institution.”

Director of V&A Dundee, Leonie Bell, said: “We are delighted the UK Government has confirmed £2.6 million of funding for V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum, to undertake a bold transformation of the Scottish Design Galleries that will bring design to life for visitors, enabling even more people to engage with Scotland’s innovative design history and its continuing influence around the world.

“V&A Dundee is an incredible resource for people living in Dundee and Scotland, drawing visitors to the region, championing design and designers and helping to change the face of the city and contributing to economic, cultural and social growth.

“This new funding means we can expand the story of design from Scotland and celebrate the worldwide influence of Scottish design and designers, further enhancing the visitor experience at V&A Dundee.”

The Scottish Design Galleries feature more than 300 objects spanning around 500 years, telling the story of Scottish design’s influence around the world.

In 2023 Dundee welcomed 1.35 million visitors, an increase of more than 50 percent since before V&A Dundee opened in 2018.