Things To Do This Summer At V&A Dundee

Summer has arrived at V&A Dundee! And with free entry to Tartan for all visitors aged 18 and under, as well as the free summer families programme now underway – there really is something for all the family when visiting.

The action kicked off on Saturday with Sketch, Scribble + Style, which runs until Sunday 6 August, and is packed with a variety of activities. This event invites visitors of all ages to get creative - encouraging them to dress up and style their own selfie with bright new costumes made from re-used tartan and neon fabrics.

The museum’s multiple award-winning Families programme have really pulled out all the stops to make this year the best yet.

I spoke with Dundee-based textile designer Syrah Jay, who is facilitating the Sketch, Scribble + Style sessions, inspired by both the Tartan and The Fashion Show exhibitions, who said that the main focus of the activity is to encourage people to express themselves through creating patterns, mark makings, outfits and more.

Syrah said “V&A Dundee’s Learning Studios are fun, safe space to express yourself! Everyone’s welcome to come along, enjoy yourself and don’t worry about making a mess." The studio is open 11.00 – 16.00 every day, so there’s plenty time to visit and get involved.

Families can of course take their designs home, and any work that are left in the studio will be displayed adding even more energy to the new-look studio designed by renowned designer, Louise Gray.

I had a great time creating a tartan-themed picture with several different brushes and paints, and charcoal to create the textures and I did my best not to get paint over my hands!

Already the activities are garnering positive feedback: “The best things we hear back from families is the number of exciting, interesting materials we have, and all the different types of activities you can do. The team are all really experienced, so it’s nice that we get compliments too!” Syrah tells me.

The activities also include outfit making, modelling and life drawing, where visitors are welcome to try on costume pieces, all created with Louise Gray.

Nearby, the residency studio at the museum has been taken over by Coorie Creative, a social enterprise fashion and textile studio based in Stirling. The residency, titled A Warp on the Wild Side!, is another free activity for all ages, where visitors are warmly invited to try their hand at weaving some tartan - exploring the design process from thread to final product.

The museum also offers its year-long daily drop-in activities for families with young children, from following the journey of Selkie the Seal in Selkie Trail to wandering the waterfront with the museum’s seek + peek! play trail, designed by Dundee-based illustrator Cara Rooney, and Design Busters, created by Dundee-based designer Laura Darling, which allows young visitors to use their imaginations to design cool cities, draw striking patterns and create graphic logos!

This summer, the museum is packed full of exciting things to do, and I’d encourage everyone to come along and enjoy a great day out!

Tartan is on now until 14 January 2024: visitors aged 18 and under get free entry.

Sketch, Scribble + Style is on now until 6 August 2023 and free for all visitors.

V&A Dundee's summer families programme is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.