11 August 2026  

Camillo Atlas: Appointed Maker for 2026 SAY Award Design Commission

Turn your plastic into a SAY Award!

This year’s Design Commission winner Camillo Atlas is calling for local donations of HDPE waste plastic, such as bottle tops and shampoo bottles, which they will recycle and utilise as materials in the creation of these awards.
To donate, please visit one of the collection bins at EH9 Espresso, Canvas Dundee, and Blackness Library.
Camillo is committed to sourcing, designing and manufacturing the awards all within a 2-mile radius of Caird Hall Dundee, where the awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 5 November 2026. 
Graphic produced by The SAY Award 

PRESS RELEASE, 11th August 2026

Camillo Atlas: Appointed Maker for 2026 SAY Award Design Commission

As part of the Scottish Album of the Award’s (SAY) host city partnership with Dundee, local maker, Camillo Atlas, has been selected to create the bespoke prizes for the bands and artists being recognised at the SAY Award Ceremony which takes place at Caird Hall on Thursday 5 November. Driven by a belief that design should create lasting value rather than contribute to waste, Camillo creates pieces that celebrate the stories and character of reused materials.

Every year, the SAY Award Design Commission appoints an artist, designer or maker to create unique prizes, responding to the theme of sustainable design & highlighting the enduring links between music and design in Scotland. Applicants are asked to demonstrate how they will place sustainability at the forefront of the design and manufacture process. Previous commissions have included jesmonite arches, sand-cast recycled glass sculptures, and low-carbon concrete and terrazzo totems.

This year, the commission received 14 expressions of interest from applicants living or working within a DD postcode. Makers were encouraged to take inspiration from the city of Dundee and the wider region. Camillo Atlas particularly impressed the commission panel with his commitment to sustainably-centred making, architectural inspirations, and investment in Dundee’s creative community. Camillo transforms discarded plastics and timber into furniture, interiors and one-off objects aiming to create meaningful pieces that celebrate people, place and craftsmanship whilst encouraging a more considered relationship with the objects we live with.

Driven by a belief that design should create lasting value rather than contribute to waste, Camillo creates pieces that celebrate the stories and character of reused materials. By collaborating with local coffee shops, restaurants and bars, Camillo collects his waste plastic from the local Dundee community, involving all of us in the process of making.

Camillo Atlas is calling for local donations of HDPE waste plastic, such as bottle tops and shampoo bottles, which they will recycle and utilise as materials in the creation of these awards. To donate, please visit one of the collection bins at EH9 Espresso, Canvas, and Blackness Library. Camillo is committed to sourcing, designing and manufacturing the awards all within a 2-mile radius of Caird Hall.

 

Camillo Atlas said:

“It’s a real honour to design and make this year’s SAY Awards. Created from recycled plastic collected across Dundee, each award transforms discarded materials into something lasting and meaningful. Drawing inspiration from Dundee’s urban landscape and architectural forms, every piece will be unique, reflecting both the individuality of the music being celebrated and the collective effort of the community that helped bring the awards to life.”

 

Aja Garrod-Prance, General Manager at the Scottish Music Industry Association, said:

“We’re delighted with the appointment of Camillo Atlas as this year’s maker for our bespoke awards, and to return to the question of what an ‘award’ is in the context of the climate emergency. Sustainability and the circular economy are questions we return to again and again in the music industry, and I am excited to see how this year’s commission can help us reframe what waste is, and what it means to us. Music and design go hand in hand in telling the stories of our lives, and I am looking forward to working with Camillo and the UNESCO City of Design Dundee team to bring this commission to life.”

 

Lizzie Day, Project Coordinator at UNESCO City of Design Dundee said:

“We’re so excited to have Camillo Atlas onboard as the Design Commission recipient for this year’s SAY Awards. Camillo’s work explores the potential of reclaimed and waste materials, reforming them into something entirely new whilst always keeping sustainability at the core. At UNESCO City of Design Dundee, we believe in the power of design and the essential place of designers in the life of the city. We can’t wait to see Camillo transform Dundee’s waste plastic into beautiful, one of a kind designs!”

 

Anna Day, Head of Culture and Libraries at Leisure & Culture Dundee, said:

“The SAY Award Design Commission attracted a high standard of applications, highlighting the depth of creative talent across Dundee and the surrounding area. Camillo Atlas is a natural choice for this year, bringing together creativity, craftsmanship and sustainability in a way that reflects many of the values at the heart of Dundee’s cultural and design communities. We’re delighted to support a project that connects music, design and community participation and we look forward to seeing the finished awards take centre stage at Caird Hall this November.”

The SAY Award is a Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) production. The SAY Award 2026 is delivered in partnership with Fettercairn, Creative Scotland, Leisure & Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council, UNESCO City of Design Dundee, Seabass Vinyl, PPL, HMV, FOPP, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative, Youth Music, Apex Hotels, Malmaison and Music Declares Emergency.

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Images free to use: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gBwVkjXczWsORGxhUSxzxEcF3C1qNq6K?usp=drive_link   

For media enquiries contact kevin.mcginley@leisureandculturedundee.com

 

Notes to Editors

CAMILLO ATLAS

Camillo Atlas is a designer and maker based in Dundee whose work explores the creative potential of reclaimed materials through contemporary craft. Originally from Germany and a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, his practice combines traditional making techniques with a commitment to sustainability, transforming discarded plastics and timber into furniture, interiors and one-off objects.

Driven by a belief that design should create lasting value rather than contribute to waste, Camillo creates pieces that celebrate the stories and character of reused materials. His practice occasionally incorporates collaboration with other designers, organisations and local communities, recognising that shared making and material collection can enrich both the design process and the final object.

His work demonstrates that thoughtful craftsmanship and responsible material choices can produce objects that are both beautiful and enduring. Whether designing furniture, interiors or bespoke commissions, his aim is to create meaningful pieces that celebrate people, place and craftsmanship while encouraging a more considered relationship with the objects we live with.

 

SCOTTISH MUSIC INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (SMIA)

The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) is a not-for-profit trade body and membership organisation which exists to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s music industry.

We work to create and nurture an inclusive membership community which reflects the full spectrum of Scotland’s music industry. We give voice to our membership when speaking to Government, Parliament and development organisations, and we both produce and support projects and programmes that stimulate sustainability, domestic and international growth, development and innovation in Scotland’s music sector. Our services, projects and events are designed to strengthen and increase the value of Scotland’s music industry on the world stage; economically, socially and culturally.

The SMIA receives Multi-Year Funding from Creative Scotland, the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here.

For further information on the SMIA and its services, projects and events please visit www.smia.org.uk.

Keep up to date with the SMIA across our social media channels – Instagram: instagram.com/the_smia | Twitter: twitter.com/TheSMIA | Facebook: facebook.com/TheSMIA

 

FETTERCAIRN

For over two hundred years Fettercairn distillery has been at the heart of a thriving agricultural community in Aberdeenshire, a region known as “The Garden of Scotland”.

It is a place where people have always imagined things differently. That attitude is epitomised in our unique copper cooling ring which sits at the top of our stills, drenching them with water from the Cairngorm mountains and allowing only the lightest vapours to rise. The process creates a completely unique spirit, rich in tropical notes.

This lets us start layering flavour at every stage of our process, creating our imaginative take on Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

 

About Fettercairn Distillery

Fettercairn Distillery was founded in Aberdeenshire in 1824 with a completely unique copper cooling ring added to its stills in the 1950s. This innovation lends the whiskies a characteristically light and tropical flavour that has won international recognition. The core Fettercairn range continues to demonstrate this progressive approach to whisky-making and includes a 12 year-old, 16 year-old and a 24 year-old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky alongside limited releases and those exclusive to global travel retail.

 

CREATIVE SCOTLAND

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow Creative Scotland on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

 

CAIRD HALL

Caird Hall is Dundee’s premier concert and events venue, located at the heart of the city. Operated by Leisure & Culture Dundee, the venue is renowned for its grand architecture, excellent acoustics and versatile space.

Caird Hall hosts a diverse range of performances and events, from classical concerts and gigs of all genres to conferences and graduations.

With a seating capacity of up to 2,300 and a stunning setting overlooking City Square, the hall continues to attract world-class artists and touring productions.

Easily accessible by road, rail, and bus, Caird Hall offers modern facilities while preserving its historic charm, making it a distinctive venue for audiences and performers alike.

For more information, visit https://www.leisureandculturedundee.com/culture/caird-hall

 

LEISURE & CULTURE DUNDEE

Leisure & Culture Dundee is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) dedicated to enriching lives by delivering high-quality leisure, sport, cultural, and library services across Dundee. Established to serve the people of Dundee and its visitors, we operate a diverse portfolio of venues and programmes that inspire participation, promote wellbeing, and celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage.

We are proud to be at the heart of Dundee’s community life, managing libraries, museums, galleries, sports centres, and performance venues that are accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all. Our work supports health and well-being, lifelong learning, social inclusion and economic development.

For more information, visit https://www.leisureandculturedundee.com/

 

V&A DUNDEE

V&A Dundee is Scotland’s design museum. Designed for everyone – firing imaginations and sparking curiosity in design in Scotland and around the world, from the heart of Dundee’s reimagined waterfront.

Conceived as a 21st century museum and designed by Kengo Kuma, V&A Dundee is a place of activity and energy, presenting spectacular exhibitions and a range of vibrant design experiences across our building, plaza and city. V&A Dundee brings design from all over the world to Scotland and gives a new voice and platform to Scottish design and designers.

V&A Dundee is part of the V&A family of museums, supported by the Scottish Government and our founding partnership of V&A, Dundee City Council, the University of Dundee, Abertay University and Scottish Enterprise.

 

Dundee City Council

Dundee City Council is the local authority for Dundee, a modern, vibrant city which is continuing to transform culturally. Its priorities include delivering inclusive economic growth, tackling climate change, reducing inequalities and child poverty and empowering communities. The Council delivers services aimed at providing a better quality of life for the people of Dundee, ensuring the city remains a great place to live, work, study, and visit.

 

UNESCO City of Design Dundee

Dundee is the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Design. Highlighting Dundee’s commitment to sustainable development through creativity, the global designation as a Creative City acknowledges Dundee’s rich design heritage, its thriving contemporary design sector and a city committed to using design to solve problems making Dundee a better place to live. The UNESCO City of Design projects and programmes celebrate and demonstrate the impact of design, embrace co-design and promote Dundee’s design talent.

 

SEABASS VINYL

Seabass Vinyl is Scotland’s first vinyl pressing plant. We are an independent, family-owned business, manufacturing records from our factory in East Lothian, with an emphasis on quality and sustainability. We offer fair prices, short production runs and optimised production lead times. We’re the first vinyl record pressing plant in the UK to become carbon-neutral certified (with Carbon Neutral Britain). Our ambition is to become a valuable partner to the Scottish music industry and our local community.

 

PPL

PPL is the UK music industry’s collective management organisation (CMO) for performers and recording rightsholders. We help ensure that our members’ talent and investment is fairly rewarded.

We license recorded music in the UK when it is broadcast (TV and radio) or played in public places (retail, hospitality, workplaces, gyms, etc). When our members’ music is played around the world, they can appoint us to collect royalties through our network of 117 agreements with other CMOs.

Our members include both independent and major record companies, together with performers ranging from emerging grassroots artists through to established session musicians and global superstars.

In 2025, PPL’s revenue exceeded £315 million, and we paid over 182,000 performers and recording rightsholders. In the last five years alone, PPL has distributed over £1.25 billion to performers and recording rightsholders.

 

HMV

HMV, for the fans since 1921. A leading specialist retailer of music, film, pop culture and technology products, with over 100 stores around the UK & Ireland offering a wide selection of new release and catalogue titles

 

FOPP

www.fopp.com

 

YOUTH MUSIC INITIATIVE

In 2003, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) was launched to put music at the heart of young people’s lives and learning. It currently operates with an annual budget of £9.785 million and supports all musical genres, age groups and teaching methods. You can find out more about the programme on the Creative Scotland website.

 

YOUTH MUSIC

Youth Music is a national charity. We help marginalised young people to make and monetise music.

Every year, we raise £10 million to fund inspirational grassroots music projects and support aspiring young creatives up and down the UK.

We’re campaigning to break down barriers for young people facing inequity, exclusion and discrimination.

Together with our partners, we’re helping the next generation to transform their lives through music.

 

MUSIC DECLARES EMERGENCY

Formed by a group of UK based artists and music industry professionals in London in 2019, Music Declares Emergency has now expanded to four continents and works with over 8000 declarers from all sectors and areas of the global music industry, placing music at the heart of conversation and action in relation to the climate emergency.

Our work engages fans with the facts, develops messaging that cuts through the noise, works with artists to use their platforms, and encourages new business practice.

Our ‘No Music On A Dead Planet’ message has been seen by millions and frames a community of music lovers dedicated to working with us and the movement to campaign for systemic change to deliver real action on climate.

www.musicdeclares.net

 

APEX HOTELS

Apex Hotels is a family-owned collection of nine properties located across the UK’s key destinations including London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Bath and Dunblane in Stirlingshire.

Founded in Edinburgh’s historic Grassmarket in 1996, the group has grown into one of the UK’s leading independent hotel brands with heartfelt hospitality at the heart of the Apex Hotels experience.

Apex continues to strengthen its environmental and social impact through Apex Earth and other ESG initiatives, with all UK hotels holding Green Tourism Accreditation at Gold status across all city-centre properties.

 

MALMAISON DUNDEE

Nestled in the lively heart of Scotland’s fourth-largest city and perched on the banks of the charming River Tay, Malmaison Dundee is a haven of sophistication and style. This hotel, just a casual stroll from popular attractions like the V&A Dundee museum, RRS Discovery, and the Caird Hall concert venue, is your perfect Scottish getaway. Malmaison Dundee’s rooms spell style and comfort, with options including standard rooms, club rooms, and suites. Each space is a tribute to luxury, boasting plush bedding, modern decor, and a wealth of amenities like flat-screen TVs, minibars, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

 

Media Partners: The List and The Skinny

Hands placing a terracotta tile and a small stone sink bowl with brass ring on a terrazzo countertop.
4 August 2026  

Dundonians invited to become part of Union Street’s future through unique trinket tile project

Header Image: Spolia, a UK-made terrazzo that can incorporate demolition waste creating a narrative of continuity within a space, image courtesy of Solus Ceramics.

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PRESS RELEASE, 4th August 2026

DUNDONIANS INVITED TO BECOME PART OF UNION STREET’S FUTURE THROUGH UNIQUE TRINKET TILE PROJECT

People across Dundee are being invited to become part of Union Street’s future by donating a small keepsake, memento or trinket to be embedded within a permanent artwork for the final stage of the Union Street Transformation Project.

The project is collecting items from members of the public to be embedded within specially created terrazzo tiles that will form part of the renewed Union Street. Each contribution, whether a small memento, token, charm, badge, key, piece of jewellery, or other object of personal significance, will become a permanent part of Union Street for years to come.

The call is open to anyone with a connection to the street, including current and former residents, business owners and employees, students, shoppers and visitors who have memories linked to Union Street. People have until 8pm on Friday 21 August 2026 to submit their objects.

As well as the donated trinkets, the tiles will incorporate materials recovered during the street’s transformation, including aggregate created using elements uncovered during excavation works. This includes sections of historic tram lines discovered beneath the road surface, connecting the street’s past with its future.

Annie Marrs, Lead Officer, UNESCO City of Design Dundee said:

‘The newly pedestrianised Union Street is the result of a co-design project where the ideas and needs of businesses, residents and those visiting the street have been central to the design developed by our designers Gary Kennedy and Linsey McIntosh.

Because of this approach, we’re now inviting people to embed a small part of their own story into the street itself. These objects may be tiny, but together they will help tell a much bigger story about Dundee and the communities connected to Union Street in the past, present and future.’

Dundee City Council leader Cllr Mark Flynn said:

“I am pleased to see the progress that is already being made at Union Street to provide an attractive pedestrianised space for visitors and locals alike.”

“This shows how we are taking action to help tackle the challenges faced by retail and hospitality businesses in our city centre through our long-term City Centre Strategic Investment Plan.

“The tile project is an imaginative way to get people involved in telling the story of the street through the years as part of a significant transformation for its future.  I would encourage anyone with an object to donate to get in touch with the UNESCO City of Design team.”

 

How to submit your object

Objects can be brought to the UNESCO City of Design Dundee offices on the 2nd Floor of Central Library, The Wellgate and dropped off at the Union Street cart.

The public will be asked to attach a label to the trinket and share: your name, what the object is and why it is important to you. If they leave their contact details the team will get in touch with everyone with updates on the project.

Objects must be made of the following materials:

  • Metals (these must be Non-ferrous such as copper, gold, silver, tin, or aluminium (non-iron based metals)
  • Glass
  • Ceramics
  • Stone

Examples include keys, cutlery, ring pulls, jewellery, screws and other small objects.

Please note:

  • Donated objects will become a permanent part of the artwork and will not be returned
  • Objects will be polished as part of the terrazzo-making process and may not remain fully recognisable
  • Any items unsuitable for use will be returned where possible

The closing date for submissions is 8pm on Friday 21 August, 2026.

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For media enquiries contact kevin.mcginley@leisureandculturedundee.com

Notes to Editors

Interview opportunities are available with Lizzie Day (she/her), Project Coordinator at UNESCO City of Design Dundee, and Gary Kennedy (he/him), Designer and Lecturer in Interior & Environmental Design.

Images free to use: https://we.tl/t-cSe5s00BUQ5wxQuy

Caption for the terazzo images: Spolia, a UK-made terrazzo that incorporates demolition waste creating a narrative of continuity within a space. Image courtesy of Solus Ceramics.

Caption: Union Street visualisation by Kennedy Twaddle

The Union Street Transformation Project is part of Dundee’s wider City Centre Strategic Investment Plan and has been developed through a co-design process involving local businesses, residents and stakeholders.

The trinket tiles will form a permanent feature within the newly transformed pedestrianised street, incorporating objects donated by the public alongside materials recovered during the construction works.

To find out more about the Union Street Transformation Project visit https://cityofdesigndundee.com/projects/union-street/

18 June 2026  

Exhibition celebrating intrepid journalists launches at Dundee Book Festival

Header Image: ‘For Books Not Buildings’ by Louise Forbes Design. Photography by Reuben Paris.

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PRESS RELEASE, 17th June 2026

EXHIBITION CELEBRATING INTREPID JOURNALISTS LAUNCHES AT DUNDEE BOOK FESTIVAL

Exhibition images available to download here

BOOKENDS is now open at Central Library, ahead of Dundee Book Festival 2026
For media enquiries, please contact elizabeth.day@leisureandculturedundee.com
Website link: https://cityofdesigndundee.com/event/bookends/
Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky: @designdundee

A selection of Scotland’s most exciting designers have been invited by curator Dr Stacey Hunter to create a unique pair of bookends, inspired by pioneering Dundonian journalists Marie Imandt and Bessie Maxwell.

In 1894, Marie and Bessie were asked by DC Thomson to undertake a round-the-world trip visiting ten different countries all whilst reporting back to readers across the UK about what they saw. Their writings considered design culture from Florence to Tokyo, as they described train carriages, tea ceremonies and more.

Responding to these reports, the contemporary Scottish designers created sets of bookends in a variety of innovative materials, all whilst using sustainable manufacturing methods. A selection of these bookends can be seen on display in Central Library, shown for the first time since their premiere at Dundee Design Festival in 2024.

Each designer explored experimental approaches, and innovative techniques to create their bookends. Dundee-based designer Aymeric Renould repurposed spent grain from the brewing process, compressing it into sheets to create stacked layers. Kate Trouw, based in Kinghorn, Fife, reused slag glass (a by-product of metal ore smelting processes) sourced from a former coal mine near Alloa, whilst Glasgow-based Soorin Shin 3-D printed their braided designs using both recycled filament and plant-based bioplastics.

Every pair of bookends is unique, reflecting how each designer creates, thinks and designs differently.

Dundee-based designer Louise Forbes said: “It’s great to see my work back on display alongside so many other amazing designers. My bookends look at the current issues facing buildings constructed from RAAC, considering the impermanence of this faulty material.”

Louise Forbes made their bookends from RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete). Although the C stands for concrete, it has absolutely no properties or connections to it; in fact, many of the buildings it was used in are now being declared unsafe. The bookends act as a metaphor for the impermanence of RAAC and its dependence on other materials.

Lizzie Day, Project Coordinator at UNESCO City of Design Dundee, said: “We’re pleased to exhibit BOOKENDS as part of Dundee Book Festival! It’s brilliant to have these amazing pieces of design back out on public display in such a fitting setting.”

BOOKENDS is free to see at Central Library and runs from 18 – 21 June 2026. Dundee Book Festival at Central Library and The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum runs from 19 – 21 June 2026.

BOOKENDS was originally curated and devised by Dr Stacey Hunter for Dundee Design Festival 2024. Dundee Design Festival is a UNESCO City of Design Dundee project.

END

Dundee Book Festival
Dundee Book Festival 2026 takes place this weekend, 19-21 June. Events with Nicola Sturgeon and Professor Sue Black have already sold out, as anticipation builds across a packed three day programme celebrating books and ideas.

The festival brings over 25 events to the heart of the city, with most tickets just £5 and a strong mix of national names and Dundee voices, it’s a chance to come together and celebrate our city through storytelling, creativity and live conversation.

Final tickets are available at dundeebookfestival.com

 

Dundee Design Festival
Dundee Design Festival is Scotland’s national celebration of contemporary design. After presenting 5 iterations at venues across the city, the festival is now set to return in September 2027.

Dundee Design Festival is a UNESCO City of Design Dundee project.

 

UNESCO City of Design Dundee
Since 2014, Dundee has been the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design. This global designation as a Creative City acknowledges Dundee’s rich design heritage, its thriving contemporary design sector and a city committed to using design to solve problems and make Dundee a better place to live.

Find out more at cityofdesigndundee.com

30 March 2026  

New Creative Cities Living Heritage Residency Programme Celebrates Scotland’s UNESCO Sites

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE
New Creative Cities Living Heritage Residency Programme Celebrates Scotland’s UNESCO Sites

A national micro‑residency initiative connecting artists with Scotland’s world‑renowned cultural and natural heritage

Scotland’s UNESCO Creative Cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Perth) have joined forces with UNESCO Sites across the country to launch the Creative Cities Living Heritage Residency Programme, a new micro‑residency initiative designed to celebrate, explore, and strengthen the cultural and environmental connections woven throughout Scotland’s landscape.

Supported by the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s Local to Global UNESCO Network Community Grants, with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the programme will bring together four creatives, each based in one of Scotland’s UNESCO Creative Cities, for a week‑long immersive residency at a paired UNESCO site. Creatives will respond to their host location through sound, image, word, or form, producing new creative work inspired by the distinctive qualities of each setting.

Taking place between May and June 2026, the residencies aim to deepen cross‑sector collaboration, platform Scotland’s cultural excellence, and encourage new dialogue between contemporary creative practice and Scotland’s globally recognised heritage.

Residency Pairings

Dundee (UNESCO City of Design) × New Lanark (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

A designer from Dundee, Scotland’s first and only UNESCO City of Design, will partner with New Lanark, the historic mill village founded in 1785 and internationally admired for its utopian model of community, education and welfare. The residency will explore how New Lanark’s pioneering industrial and social innovations can inform contemporary design.

Edinburgh (UNESCO City of Literature) × The Forth Bridge (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

A writer based in Edinburgh, the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, will work with the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Forth Bridge, a feat of engineering known globally for its striking red steelwork and enduring symbolism of Scottish ingenuity. The residency will focus on the sites and sounds of The Forth Bridge.

Glasgow (UNESCO City of Music) × New Lanark (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

A Glasgow musician, representing Scotland’s only UNESCO City of Music, will also be hosted by New Lanark, this time with a focus on the contemporary soundscape of the village. This collaboration will explore how historic spaces can inspire new sonic interpretations of a heritage utopia.

Perth (UNESCO City of Craft & Folk Art) × Arran Geopark (UNESCO Global Geopark)

A craft maker from Perth & Kinross, the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of craft, will work with Arran Geopark, famed for its extraordinary geodiversity and cultural heritage. This residency will investigate the shared geological stories of Arran and Perthshire and their influence on craft practice past and present.

Artist Outputs and Public Sharing

Each selected artist will create one original creative work in response to their residency site. These pieces may take the form of writing, music, craft, or design, appropriate to the creative’s practice and the residency pairing. Works will be shared online through blog posts, images, video, or other suitable media, offering audiences across Scotland, and around the world, a window into the creative process and the links between Scotland’s heritage and contemporary culture.

Eligibility, Fees and Support

Artists may only apply for the micro-residency linked to the UNESCO Creative City in which they are based.
Each residency includes:

  • £1,796 artist fee (equivalent to 5 days at Scottish Artist Union rates)
  • £400 accommodation support
  • £150 travel support
  • £154 access and materials support

The programme is delivered with in‑kind support from Scotland’s UNESCO Creative Cities, participating host sites, and partner organisations.

Timeline and Application Details

All residencies will take place between May and June 2026, with all creative work completed by 30 June 2026.

  • Application deadline: 1pm, 13 April 2026
  • Applicant responses expected by: 21 April 2026 (subject to change)
  • Shortlisted artists may be invited to an initial meeting prior to residency confirmation.

APPLY HERE: Scotland’s Creative Cities Living Heritage Residencies Programme Open Call – Fill in form

For press enquiries, interviews or further information, please contact:

perthcraftcity@gmail.com

18 December 2025  

Designers selected for new international New Zealand-Scotland textile residency

Header Image: Hannah Sabapathy, ‘PROCESS’ at Dundee Design Festival 2024, curated by Dr Stacey Hunter, photography by Grant Anderson.

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PRESS RELEASE, 18th December 2025

Designers selected for new international New Zealand-Scotland textile residency

FREE TO USE IMAGES: https://tinyurl.com/mr52cara 

Whanganui designer Matthew McIntyre Wilson and Dundee designer Hannah Sabapathy have been selected for a new international residency programme, strengthening ties between two UNESCO Cities of Design through ancestral textile practices.

The Textile Legacies programme will see the designers exchange cities in 2026, with Sabapathy arriving in Whanganui in March and Wilson departing for Dundee in April. The initiative marks the first formal creative exchange between the two cities since both achieved UNESCO City of Design status.

Selected by international and local panellists, the designers will each spend a month learning and sharing with the local design community, bringing unique cultural perspectives that will broaden creative practices in both cities.

Both Whanganui and Dundee have long-standing textile traditions that are powerful expressions of place-based cultural identity. The long-standing textile traditions of Whanganui and Dundee are powerful expressions of place-based cultural identity. Simultaneously, these histories also carry complex legacies — including the impacts of colonisation, war, and cultural suppression — which have shaped and, at times, disrupted cultural development. The resurgence of traditional textile techniques provides an opportunity for design heritage to shape contemporary identities and creative practices.

Matthew McIntyre Wilson is a Whanganui-based practitioner whose work intertwines Māori cultural practices, museological inquiry, and contemporary craft.

“This residency offers a rare opportunity to deepen my work in raranga whakairo (patterned weaving)”, says Wilson. “Engaging with early Māori textiles held in Scotland will strengthen my understanding of their histories and techniques.”

Hannah Sabapathy is a Dundee-based artist and researcher. Hannah trained as a printed textile designer and uses this knowledge to interrogate the power dynamics behind South Asian and British textile design history through pattern.

“I’m delighted to be participating in the Whanganui x Dundee: Textile Legacies residency!”  says Sabapathy. “It will extend my work around the politics of pattern design, enabling me to explore the complexities of materiality in the context of Whanganui.”

The exchange, supported by local organisations such as Verdant Works and Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, reinforces both cities as leaders in heritage-led design innovation.

“This collaboration benefits both locations and demonstrates how smaller cities can lead in cultural diplomacy” says Emma Bugden, Focal Point at UNESCO City of Design Whanganui. “This is the value of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network offering knowledge transfer, collaborative projects, and international partnerships.”

“At UNESCO City of Design Dundee, we believe in the power of design and the essential place of designers in the life of our city.” says Lizzie Day, Project Coordinator at UNESCO City of Design Dundee. “We are very excited to welcome Matthew to Dundee in 2026 and for Dundee’s own Hannah Sabapathy to journey to New Zealand – we anticipate this project will spark deeper connections and we hope that long-term collaboration with Whanganui will emerge from this initial exchange.”

“Cultural exchange is at the heart of the British Council’s Connections Through Culture programme” says Natasha Beckman, Director at British Council New Zealand and the Pacific. “When designers share ancestral textile practices across cultures, they can preserve heritage while opening new creative possibilities. We hope this exchange between Matthew McIntyre Wilson and Hannah Sabapathy will create lasting connections between Whanganui and Dundee, help grow our creative industries, and enrich design practice in both UNESCO Cities of Design for years to come.”

The residency runs from March to April 2026, with outcomes to be shared publicly in both cities.

END

 

For UK media enquiries, please contact elizabeth.day@leisureandculturedundee.com
For NZ media enquiries, please contact Eilish.Horrocks@whanganuiandpartners.nz 

Whanganui X Dundee: Textile Legacies is coordinated by UNESCO City of Design Dundee and UNESCO City of Design Whanganui and supported by the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific’s Connections Through Culture Programme.

 

Dundee UNESCO City of Design

Since 2014, Dundee has been the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design. This global designation as a Creative City acknowledges Dundee’s rich design heritage, its thriving contemporary design sector and a city committed to using design to solve problems and make Dundee a better place to live.

cityofdesigndundee.com
@designdundee / Instagram & Facebook
@designdundee.bsky.social / Bluesky

Whanganui UNESCO City of Design

In 2021, Whanganui was announced as New Zealand’s only UNESCO City of Design, one of 49 such cities worldwide, in recognition of the city’s exceptional creativity, innovative spirit, cultural integrity and strength of artistic tradition.

Whanganui’s City of Design status is not only a recognition of its creative heritage, it also reflects the unique significance of indigenous cultural identity and the direction the city is taking.

cityofdesignwhanganui.nz
@whanganuiandpartners / LinkedIn & Facebook

 

Designer Bios

Matthew McIntyre Wilson

Matthew McIntyre Wilson (Taranaki, Ngā Māhanga, Tītahi) is a practitioner whose work brings together Māori cultural practices, museological inquiry, and contemporary craft. Based in Whanganui, his practice is grounded in a sustained commitment to revitalising ancestral knowledge while expanding the possibilities of object-making today. Trained initially as a jeweller at Whitireia Polytechnic and Hawke’s Bay Polytechnic, his early focus on fine metalwork later converged with the weaving knowledge he learned under the guidance of master weaver and close friend Rangi Kiu. This convergence created a distinct practice in which jewellery and fibre technologies intertwine, enabling him to create intricately woven forms such as kete, tātua, armbands, and kākahu using both customary and contemporary materials. 

Matthew’s whakapapa links to Puniho and Oeo Pā in Taranaki, and his papakāinga at Kākahi, where the Whakapapa and Whanganui Rivers meet. The environmental and cultural histories of these places continue to shape his thinking, informing his relationship to the natural world and to the stylistic and conceptual foundations of his work. The artistic legacy of his grandfather, painter Peter McIntyre, further deepened his connection to place and observation. 

Central to his practice is the study of taonga held in museums. Through close examination of hīnaki, korotete, kupenga, and other woven objects, he re-engages with the embedded knowledge systems carried within their construction. This research underpins his ongoing exploration of how traditional technologies and design principles can be reactivated in contemporary contexts, forming an artistic language that honours generational knowledge while responding to present-day conversations around identity, museology, and cultural continuity. 

 

Hannah Sabapathy

Hannah Sabapathy is an artist and researcher based in Dundee. She trained as a printed textile designer, and uses pattern and a variety of materials to interrogate the power dynamics behind South Asian and British textile design history. 

She is currently a Leeds Opportunity Research Scholar undertaking a practice-based PhD at The University of Leeds. Hannah’s series of fourteen vitreous enamel panels for the 20/20 Residency with The Decolonising Institute, University of Arts has been acquired by The Harris Museum Preston and are on display at the newly reopened museum. Other recent commissions have been a collaborative light projection of Kashmiri textiles from the Cultural Institute, University of Leeds for Leeds Light Night. 

She has undertaken residencies at Hospitalfield, Dundee Contemporary Arts Print Studio and Cove Park, as well as The Harris Museum.

12 November 2025  

Designer Christmas Trees return for a fourth year

IMAGES: PHOTO CALL WITH DESIGNERS TAKING PLACE 2PM, FRIDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2025 AT CITY CHURCHES, DUNDEE, DD1 4DG. PRESS WELCOME TO ATTEND.

PRESS RELEASE
Designer Christmas Trees return for a fourth year

In cities all around the world, festive tree displays are a highlight of the season. Beautiful and inspiring trees are created by designers who combine festive traditions and contemporary design.

Dundee’s Designer Christmas Trees celebrate our UNESCO City of Design status, presenting designs developed locally. Part of Dundee’s Festive Celebrations, in partnership with Dundee City Council, 17 designs have been commissioned through the project since its start in 2022. All elements of the final trees (and their decorations!) must be made from 100% reused or recycled materials and utilise multiples of an object or material. Dundee’s Designer Christmas Trees will appear on Wednesday 12 November 2025 and will remain on display until Wednesday 7 January 2026. This year’s brand-new designs are:

 

‘The Christmice Tree’ by environmental science based creator Hollis Crowe
The Christmice Tree is made from old wooden bed slats, reused chicken wire and household electrical waste. Here you can see all those things found in that old box of mystery cables that seems to sit in every home – USB cables, charging plugs, computer mice, ethernet cables and more.

So much everyday technology is disposable by design but the tech in your life should be high quality, durable, and repairable. 6 million tonnes of e-waste is generated annually in the UK, but we only recycle 31.2% of it.

Hollis Crowe is a creator with a background in environmental science, an interest in green space usage, and a belief in art and design as a science communication tool.

‘ARE WE THERE YET!!!’ by street artist John Fairley, also known as ZX81art
Saved and given new life, these road signs have been reimagined as a Christmas Tree by John Fairley (ZX81art). Evoking memories of family road trips and the annual anticipation of holiday celebrations, ‘ARE WE THERE YET!!!’ feels like an apt title!

These road signs have been kindly donated by The James Hutton Institute, a world-leading scientific research institute for the sustainable management of land, crops, and natural resources that support thriving communities. Marking former roads across their campus in Invergowrie, these signs fell out of use and were removed to make way for new infrastructure.

John Fairley (ZX81art) is a Dundee-based installation artist on a mission to raise a smile. Working primarily with every day public items, ZX81 looks to transform the mundane into moments of joy for the viewer to pass along.

‘My Christmas Tree Was A…’ by wood-worker Louise Forbes and jeweller Islay Spalding, known together as Man Pin
Constructed from broken and discarded musical instruments, Man Pin’s Christmas Tree design highlights the beautiful shapes and materials seen within these once loved objects. The Tree even makes its own music! When the wind blows, you may just hear it sing…

Man Pin is a collaboration between wood-worker Louise Forbes and jeweller Islay Spalding. Using old wooden objects such as instruments, whisky casks or sports equipment, they create limited collections of wooden pins and accessories.

Featured musical instruments were collected from ScrapAntics’ ScrapStore and Vintage Strings, a music shop that specialises in the sale and repair of orchestral instruments and pianos, both in Dundee’s West End.

‘Tinsel Trash’ by visual artist Zoe Gibson
Made from tin cans, biscuit tins and reclaimed garden netting, this tree is bursting with movement. The netting has been cut into strips to create tassels, exactly like tinsel! This tree even jingles in the wind with bells placed throughout the design.

Zoe Gibson is a Dundee-based visual artist whose work combines sculpture, filmmaking, installation and drawing. Her work is inspired by folk art, craft, festival culture and the Scottish landscape, underpinned by a belief that art should be a deeply embedded part of our everyday surroundings.

The garden netting (ripped and damaged by bad weather) has been kindly donated by Ninewells Community Garden, a therapeutic garden based at Ninewells Hospital.

 

Zoe Gibson, visual artist, said
“I’ve really enjoyed sourcing the materials for this tree, it’s nice to let the quirks and irregularities of second-hand materials guide what you make!”

Hollis Crowe, environmental science based creator, said
“Anything can be taken apart and changed, and anything that can be changed has potential.”

John Fairley, street-artist known as ZX81art, said
“It’s been so much fun reimagining the directions that we’re told to take in life. From the magic of being little at Christmas, growing up and recycling that magic into new directions for everyone, it’s been a great experience and I hope everyone enjoys it.”

Louise Forbes & Islay Spalding, designers at Man Pin, said
“It has been really exciting taking apart these instruments and seeing all of the craftsmanship involved in the making. We hope creating this tree is an inspiring way to show the wide range of materials used in the creation of musical instruments.”

Lizzie Day, Project Coordinator at UNESCO City of Design, said
“At UNESCO City of Design Dundee, we believe in the power of design and the essential place of designers in the life of our city. 2025’s Designer Christmas Tree makers have all excellently portrayed this ethos whilst showcasing the importance of sustainability in design.”

 

Returning designs from 2022-2024 are:

‘Spiral Tree’ (2022) by Helm Young Team
Young people aged 16-18 from local charity Helm designed and built this tree with support from the charities technical team, using old pallets to create an impactful giant spiral.

‘Retro Celebrations’ (2022) by Billy Hutchison
Made from hundreds of aluminium juice cans, the shiny design references vintage Christmas Trees from the 1960s.

‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ (2022) by Caishnah Nevans
Constructed from vinyl records, this design celebrates the importance of music throughout the festive season.

‘The Absentree’ (2023) by Lyle McCance
This build shows the silhouette of a tree and brings to light issues around deforestation here and abroad.

‘The Material Christmas’ (2023) by Lee Johnstone and Aymeric Renoud
Constructed from air vents and lumber scraps, this tree asks us to consider waste’s potential.

‘The Exploding Tree’ (2023) by Suzanne Scott and Louise Forbes
Made with leftover materials, this tree is adorned with stars, robins, hearts and toadstools (often said to be the inspiration behind Christmas colours). It also wiggles softly in the wind!

‘Make Trees Trees Again!’ (2023) by Blair McCafferty
Made entirely from skateboards, this tree uses broken boards from the local skateboarding community.

‘Silent night, holy bike’ (2024) by Camillo Atlas with pupils from Braeview Academy and Craigie High School
A Dundee Christmas Tree made from broken bike parts – welded together by 14 high school students

‘A Fast Fashion Christmas’ (2024) by Dreamland
Created using thrown away textiles and fast fashion garments, Dreamland’s Christmas Tree highlights just how wasteful and impactful the fast fashion industry is.

‘Adrift’ (2024) by Steve Page
Using material found along the Dundee shoreline, Adrift shows the juxtaposition of natural maritime materials with the litter we produce.

‘Cone home for Christmas’ (2024) by Jo-AMI
A waste product of the knitting process, vibrant, multicoloured plastic spools have been stacked together to create Jo-AMI’s Christmas Tree.

 

Since 2014, Dundee has been the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design. This global designation as a Creative City acknowledges Dundee’s rich design heritage, its thriving contemporary design sector and a city committed to using design to solve problems and make Dundee a better place to live.

cityofdesigndundee.com
@designdundee / Instagram & Facebook
@designdundee.bsky.social / Bluesky

For media enquiries, please contact elizabeth.day@leisureandculturedundee.com

Dundee’s Designer Christmas Tree project is supported by Dundee City Council and delivered by UNESCO City of Design Dundee.

END

 

10 November 2025  

Crowdfunder launched for Dundee’s Covid Community Memorial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10 November 2025

Free to use images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/182139081@N02/albums/72177720299492047/

For media enquiries contact kirsten.wallace@leisureandculturedundee.com or call 01382 307455 

Crowdfunder launched inviting the public to support Dundee’s Covid Community Memorial Garden. 

On Monday 10th November 2025, UNESCO City of Design Dundee launched a Crowdfunder inviting the public to support the creation of Dundee’s Covid Community Memorial Garden. Contributions will go towards this free, permanent memorial garden and greenspace which will be situated next to Moncur Crescent Playpark, on Caird Avenue. 

The Crowdfunder will close on Friday 30th January 2026 and donations can be made by visiting: https://crowdfunder.co.uk/p/dundee-covid-community-memorial   

 

Dundee’s Covid Community Memorial Garden, due to be installed by Autumn 2026, will be a colourful labyrinth where people can come together to reflect and connect with others and nature.  

The garden is the outcome of Dundee’s participation in a national project across 32 local authority areas in Scotland called Remembering Together. The project has encouraged communities to collectively commemorate loved ones who lost their lives, reflect on the difficult times, and remember their positive experiences. It has been a space to celebrate the ways communities were brought together during this time and heal as a nation. 

The public are invited to donate to Dundee’s Memorial in commemoration of their loved ones or to memorialise their own experiences of the Covid pandemic. Donors can choose to select one of three tiered rewards or donate smaller amounts of money.  

By donating £20, donors will receive a packet of wildflower seeds for planting in their own garden or community. By donating £50, donors will receive a packet of wildflower seeds and a Corten steel bird decoration to display in their own home or garden. Finally, by selecting the top tier of a £100 donation, these donors will receive both rewards and will be allocated a bird on the garden’s central artwork. 

The garden’s central artwork will include a sculptural display of birds in flight mirroring the natural waves, curves and shapes in the planting. Birds often have connotations of the changing of seasons, freedom of movement and new beginnings, reminding us of our loved ones. They were selected as the artworks’ motifs by local communities in collaboration with designers, Old School Fabrications.  

The memorial’s materials of Corten steel and timber, as well as perennial planting have been considered with longevity, low maintenance and sustainability in mind. The design has been well considered in regard to maintenance and designed to ensure that the space is safe and inviting to visit. 

The Memorial design was developed from a series of conversations and workshops with local communities, delivered by design studio Around Zero. The workshops were held across Dundee and invited people to reflect on their Covid experiences and to define what a pandemic related memorial would look like for them. The final design created by design studio Old School Fabrications reflects the emotional twists and turns of Covid but also encourages people to take time out of their day to enjoy fresh air and connect with nature.  

 

QUOTES: 

Annie Marrs, Lead Officer, UNESCO City of Design Dundee said: 

“This fundraising initiative marks an additional stage in the development of the memorial project and builds on the strong foundation already in place.
“The extra raised through this crowdfunding campaign will directly support the expansion and increased visibility of the central artwork itself. We’ve been touched by the number of people who’ve asked how they can contribute to the memorial. This fundraising effort offers a meaningful way for the public to get involved, helping to make the artwork even bigger and better, while also having the opportunity to take home a symbolic piece of the memorial.
“The more that is raised, the larger the artwork will become and the more elements of the memorial will be featured within the garden.”

Kirsten Wallace, Project Coordinator, UNESCO City of Design Dundee said:  

“We have launched this Crowdfunder to help realise the community’s full ambition behind this co-designed Covid Memorial for Dundee. This fundraiser provides an opportunity for those who were not previously involved in the Memorial’s co-design phase to now be a part of its creation. 

“Those who generously donate £100 and above, will be allocated their own memorialised bird shape within the Garden’s central artwork, as well as receiving their own Corten steel bird ornament and a packet of wildflower seeds.” 

 

Lucy Binnie, CLD Youth Worker and project participant, said:  

“It is exciting to see our original ideas for Dundee’s Covid Community Memorial come to life. We designed the Memorial to include a labyrinth that people can walk through and take a moment to reflect.  

“We’re really pleased with the Memorial’s location at Moncur Crescent, as it was important for our design to be located close to a playpark for children and young people, who were impacted by isolation during the Covid pandemic.” 

 

Estelle Coulthard, former Family Support Coordinator, Home-Start Dundee and project participant said: 

“I lost my grandfather to Covid and never had the opportunity to say goodbye. The Memorial Garden will give me a place to sit and share my memories with others and allow our younger generation to have a fun place to find out how Covid affected our lives.”   

 

ENDS 

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

Leisure & Culture Dundee  

Leisure & Culture Dundee is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) dedicated to enriching lives by delivering high-quality leisure, sport, cultural, and library services across Dundee. Established to serve the people of Dundee and its visitors, they operate a diverse portfolio of venues and programmes that inspire participation, promote wellbeing, and celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage. 

They are proud to be at the heart of Dundee’s community life, managing libraries, museums, galleries, sports centres, and performance venues that are accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all. Their work supports health and well-being, lifelong learning, social inclusion and economic development. 

For more information, visit https://www.leisureandculturedundee.com/ 

 

Remembering Together  

A project that collectively reflected, remembered, offered hope and healed communities across Scotland. Remembering Together offered a space for communities to come together and process what Covid meant, and continues to mean, for Scotland as a nation. This project commissioned artists in all 32 local authority areas in Scotland to co-create with local communities to find ways of honouring the people who were affected by Covid and the ways they want to remember them. 

 

UNESCO City of Design Dundee  

Dundee is the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Design. It was designated a UNESCO Creative City in 2014 acknowledging Dundee’s rich design heritage, its thriving contemporary design sector and strong cultural identity. As the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Design, Dundee upholds the values of UNESCO and publicly champions the city’s commitment to placing design at the heart of local development plans and to global cooperation working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  

The programmes that UNESCO City of Design Dundee deliver celebrate and demonstrate the impact of design, embrace co-design, promote local talent, engage designers in decision making and collaborate with other UNESCO Creative Cities.  

Currently there are 53 UNESCO Cities of Design, including Bangkok, Bilbao, Detroit, Graz, Helsinki, Kobe, Mexico City, Montreal, Singapore, Seoul and Wuhan.  

UNESCO City of Design Dundee: https://cityofdesigndundee.com 

@designdundee 

 

Featured images: Design render by Old School Fabrications
28 October 2025  

OPEN CALL – Whanganui X Dundee: Textile Legacies

Image courtesy of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery.

Open Call
Whanganui X Dundee: Textile Legacies

Whanganui X Dundee: Textile Legacies is a residency programme that connects indigenous and ancestral textile practices between Whanganui, New Zealand and Dundee, Scotland to foster meaningful cultural and creative exchange. The project initiates a new connection between two UNESCO Cities of Design, supporting the development of contemporary textile design specialists through a reciprocal international residency.

The long-standing textile traditions of Whanganui and Dundee are powerful expressions of place-based cultural identity. At the same time, these histories also carry complex legacies — including the impacts of colonisation, war, and cultural suppression — which have shaped and, at times, disrupted cultural development. In the resurgence of traditional textile techniques in both cities, we see not only a reconnection to ancestral knowledge, but also a recognition of how design heritage continues to shape contemporary identities and creative practices.

Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel which will feature indigenous voices, sector specialists, and a representative from Whanganui. Panellists are as follows:

PROJECT BRIEF

The full project brief can be found in the below PDF.

Applications close at 10:00am on Wednesday 19 November 2025.

HOW TO APPLY

This opportunity is open to practicing designers and design specialists working within textiles and/or connected fields. Applicants must live, work or have a studio located within a DD postcode (for example, DD1 1DB).

Application links are included within the PDF and have been copied below for ease of use:

SUBMISSION FORM
EQUALITY & DIVERSITY MONITORING FORM

Further information about Connections Through Culture’s 2025 grantees can be found here.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Lizzie Day, Project Coordinator, on elizabeth.day@leisureandculturedundee.com

Whanganui X Dundee: Textile Legacies is coordinated by UNESCO City of Design Dundee and UNESCO City of Design Whanganui and supported by the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific’s Connections Through Culture Programme.

5 September 2025  

Open Call: Dundee’s Designer Christmas Trees 2025

Photography courtesy of Mhairi Edwards/The Courier, featuring ‘Cone Home for Christmas’ (2024) by Jo-AMI.

Open Call: Dundee’s Designer Christmas Trees 2025

In cities all around the world, festive tree displays are a highlight of the season. Beautiful and inspiring trees are created by designers who combine festive traditions and contemporary design.

Once again, UNESCO City of Design Dundee, in partnership with Dundee City Council are looking to commission four designers or creative practitioners to create bespoke and unique ‘Christmas Trees’ as part of Dundee’s Festive Celebrations, celebrating the diversity of the winter period. The ‘Trees’ will form part of a display located at City Churches. Designs will be made from reused and recycled materials as a festive celebration of the ingenuity of our local designers.

This opportunity is open to:

  • Designers and creative practitioners who live or work in Dundee (defined as living or work address with a DD1 – DD7 postcode)
  • Designers and creative practitioners from Dundee (defined as DD1 – DD7 postcode) and recent graduates (graduating in the last 4 years from a Dundee university)

Four successful designers will be awarded £2,200 each to cover all materials, production, installation, and fee.

The full commission brief, including details on how to submit, can be found in the below PDF. Key links have also been copied below for ease of use:

Applications close at 09:00am on Monday 29 September 2025.

Previous iterations of Dundee’s Designer Christmas Trees can be viewed via our Projects page here.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Lizzie Day, Project Coordinator, on elizabeth.day@leisureandculturedundee.com

‘Dundee’s Designer Christmas Trees 2025’ are coordinated by UNESCO City of Design Dundee and funded by Dundee City Council.

13 August 2025  

Remembering Together | Design Announcement

DUNDEE COVID MEMORIAL

WORK ON Dundee’s Covid-memorial is due to start later this summer.
Councillors will be told that the £168,000 commemoration has been developed by communities most impacted by the pandemic and creative practitioners. Sited on vacant land at Moncur Crescent/Caird Avenue, the labyrinth and surrounding garden is part of a national project funded by Scottish Government and delivered by Greenspace Scotland.
Mark Flynn, convener of Dundee City Council’s city governance committee said:
“Workshops and drop-in sessions were held where more than 120 people including some with long covid and health complications; people who had lost loved ones; young, single mothers with children born during the pandemic; youth groups and veterans, shared their personal experiences. Their thoughts and ideas have been developed into a memorial which will be a free, open outdoor space with artworks in a central area where people can reflect in peace.”
As well as the Scottish Government and Greenspace Scotland, funding for the project has also come from Coldside Community Regeneration Fund, Nature Restoration Fund, Leng Trust, Alexander Moncur Trust and Dundee Changemakers Hub.
The project is being overseen by UNESCO City of Design Dundee and following a recruitment process, designers Vinishree Verma and Ana Guerrero of Around Zero, a social innovation and environment centre design firm, were appointed to lead phase one.
Groundwork will start later this summer for four to six weeks and include the creation of paths, planting beds, information panels and benches. Further planting will be done in autumn, with the memorial fully established by summer 2026.
When it is completed the council will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the memorial. The city governance committee meets on Monday (August 18).
END
For press enquiries, please contact Mike Boyle, Communications Division at Dundee City Council on: mike.boyle@dundeecity.gov.uk

Images courtesy of UNESCO City of Design Dundee and Old School Fabrications.