V&A at Dundee joins with HobbyHouse for DesignMarket 2012
06 July 2012
The latest developments in the V&A at Dundee project will be on show at DesignMarket in Edinburgh later this month, presented in innovative fashion thanks to a partnership with a Dundee University graduate.
V&A at Dundee was invited to take part in the event by The Fruitmarket Gallery, who run a series of markets creating a platform for artists and makers. The latest in the series, DesignMarket, takes place from July 13th to 15th where designers fill the galleries with work for sale and inspiration.
The project will not only share the floor with up and coming design talent from across the country but is actively engaging with recent graduate Karen Lyttle for its display.
Karen, who graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design this year, has established the company HobbyHouse, which uses a portable, multi-functional pop-up pavilion to showcase new ideas, and which will also allow people to give their views on the project's development.
“We are delighted to be working with graduate talent such as HobbyHouse; this sort of collaboration helps the development of V&A at Dundee and gives an opportunity to a young designer to be involved,” said Philip Long, Director of V&A at Dundee; “Scotland is full of outstanding creative talents and it's V&A at Dundee's ambition to work with cultural organisations across the country to draw new attention to our design community.”
Karen Lyttle of HobbyHouse said, “Having very recently graduated from DJCAD, it is very exciting to be asked to work with V&A at Dundee. The aim of my project throughout the final year of Interior and Environmental Design was to ‘connect communities creatively’ and raise an awareness of design and craft - and V&A at Dundee - to the people of the city of Dundee. Being asked to work with V&A at Dundee to help promote it to a wider audience is a dream job coming true and I am really looking forward to the DesignMarket weekend and hopefully many more future events and adventures.”
The Fruitmarket Gallery approached V&A at Dundee to take part in DesignMarket after seeing Philip Long present at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in May, where he was awarded an Honorary Professorship.
“V&A at Dundee wants at this early stage in its development to learn from the design community about their aspirations for the future and how V&A at Dundee might contribute to this,” said Mr Long.
“The Fruitmarket Gallery's DesignMarket is a great initiative and opportunity to meet with this community and so we are delighted to be involved.”
Iain Morrison, Enterprise Manager at The Fruitmarket Gallery said, "We are delighted to be welcoming V&A at Dundee to join the mix at this year's DesignMarket. DesignMarket has grown threefold since its first occurrence in 2011 and the glittering array of designers are very happy to be joining a conversation with V&A at Dundee as it reaches out to Scotland's design community.”
DesignMarket launches on Friday 13 July 5-9pm, and runs Sat 14 July 11am-6pm, Sun 15 July 12-5pm at The Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DF.
ENDS
Notes to editors
V&A at Dundee
V&A at Dundee is being delivered by Design Dundee Ltd, a ground-breaking partnership between the Victoria and Albert Museum - the world’s greatest museum of art and design - and Dundee City Council, the Universities of Dundee and Abertay Dundee, and Scottish Enterprise.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded it a first round pass* of up to £9.2m, including £200,000 development funding, in May 2102. The Scottish Government has committed £15m in capital towards the project’s £45million budget.
The Fruitmarket Gallery
The Fruitmarket Gallery aims to make contemporary art accessible, without compromising art or under-estimating audiences.
The Gallery presents world-class, thought-provoking and challenging art made by both Scottish and international artists in an environment that is welcoming, engaging, informative and always free. The Gallery aims to give audiences the confidence to enjoy contemporary art and to understand the importance of art, artists, culture and creativity and their impact on individual and collective lives.
The Gallery’s BookMarket series focuses in turn on different facets of The Fruitmarket Gallery Bookshop’s offer and gives it more space in an event with relevant market stalls combined with artist talks and book promotions. This gives a chance for audiences with particular interests to access a good selection of items relevant to those interests.