V&A Dundee community workshops light up the city
30 June 2014
Dundee residents will have the opportunity to design and make contemporary lighting for their living rooms in a series of free community workshops taking place across the city throughout the month of July.
This is the next phase of V&A Museum of Design Dundee’s community engagement project, Living Room for the City, inviting people to share pictures of their living rooms and favourite things online.
Pamela Roberts, Learning Manager: Outreach and Communities at V&A Dundee, says that encouraging people to have a go at making their own lighting will give them an insight into the concept of design in a very approachable way. “The lighting workshops will bring together designers and residents so that people can try out new skills and make something that could transform their living space. Everyone is very welcome – even if they have never made anything before.”
Living Room for the City is the first V&A Dundee project to benefit from funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery who presented the Museum with £100,000 for community outreach work in January this year.
The eight workshops have been organised in partnership with Skill Share Dundee and will be run by Dundee designers Sooz Gordon – whose living room is featured on one of the campaign posters – and Linsey McIntosh.
A selection of lighting made in the workshops will go on show as part of the Living Room for the City exhibition at Abertay University’s Hannah Maclure Centre in August. The exhibition, designed to celebrate the results of the new museum’s first community engagement project, will also include a showreel of every public photo uploaded during the course of the project.
The Living Room for the City project was inspired by V&A Dundee architect, Kengo Kuma, who describes his vision of the building as a “living room for the city”.
Anyone can post a picture of their living room online via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #LivingRoom as part of the ongoing Living Room for the City project.
Twitter - @VADundee
Facebook - VandADundee
Instagram - vadundee
with the hashtag #LivingRoom
or by email to LivingRoom@vandadundee.org
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The free workshops take place across Dundee as follows:
• 3 July, 12-4pm, The Crescent, Whitfield
• 8 July, 1-4pm, Bharatiya Ashram, Dudhope Community Centre
• 17 July, 12-4pm, Menzieshilll Community Centre
• 18 July, 1-4pm, Ardler Complex Community Centre
• 21 July, 12-4pm, Blackness Library, Perth Road
• 22 July, 12-4pm, Douglas Community and Library Centre
• 23 July, 12-4pm, Arthurstone Community Library, Stobswell
• 30 July, 12-4pm, Castle Green Leisure Centre, Broughty Ferry
*The Living Room for the City exhibition takes place at the Hannah Maclure Centre, Abertay University, Top Floor, Abertay Student Centre, 1 - 3 Bell Street, DD1 1HP, 16 – 29 August with free family workshops and activities, 2-4pm on Sat 16, Sun 17, Sat 23 and Sun 24 August 2014.
Living Room for the City workshop collaborators
www.linseymcintosh.wordpress.com
www.soozgordondesign.com
www.skillsharedundee.wordpress.com/
About the Hannah Maclure Centre
• The Hannah Maclure Centre was created through a bequest which was gifted to Abertay University by the family of Hannah Maclure, an exceptional student who had a passion for the arts. The centre, which was opened in her honour in 2005, encompasses her passion for art and enriches the university experience for students, staff and local people.
• This unique cultural facility produces annual art happenings, exhibitions, community and digital events, and our cultural programme supports Abertay’s teaching and research activity. The centre's aim is to foster a sociable approach to experiencing art, film and performance. All our events and exhibitions are free and open to the public.