Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) is an art centre in Dundee, Scotland, with two

contemporary art Contemporary art is the art of today, produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a dynamic co ...

galleries, a two-screen

cinema Cinema may refer to: Film * Cinematography, the art of motion-picture photography * Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of a moving image ** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking ...

, a print studio, a learning and public engagement programme, a shop and a café bar. The director of DCA is Beth Bate.

History

DCA opened on 20 March 1999, but the idea of establishing a visual arts centre in Dundee had been discussed by many concerned parties from the mid-1980s. In particular, there was a desire to both nurture the students and graduates of

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) is part of the University of Dundee in Dundee, Scotland. It is ranked as one of the top schools of art and design in the United Kingdom. History Attempts were made to establish an art scho ...

(now a school of the

University of Dundee , mottoeng = "My soul doth magnify the Lord" , established = 1967 – gained independent university status by Royal Charter1897 – Constituent college of the University of St Andrews1881 – University College , ...

and one of the leading art colleges in the UK) and to build upon the work of those involved with the (now closed) Seagate Gallery and Dundee Printmakers' Workshop. Additionally, it was hoped that the project would replace and improve upon the only arthouse cinema in Dundee—the part-time Steps Theatre, which closed when DCA, with its two-screen (and full-time) cinema, opened. Initiated by Dundee Printmakers Workshop (Chaired by Sheena Bell and Vice Chair Douglas Black), a partnership was formed between the Council, the University of Dundee and a newly formed company, Dundee Contemporary Arts, led by Sheena Bell (founding Chair), Douglas Black, Steve Grimmond, Ian Howard, John McDougall and Charles McKean. In March 1995, the Council purchased a semi-derelict garage at 152 Nethergate, favoured due to its geographical proximity to the

Dundee Repertory Theatre Dundee Repertory Theatre, better known simply as the Dundee Rep, is a theatre and arts company in the city of Dundee, Scotland. It operates as both a producing house - staging at least six of its own productions each year, and a receiving house ...

and the University. The subsequent international design competition to create a new building was won in July 1996 by Richard Murphy Architects. The resulting building was instantly hailed as an innovative modern space. The final cost of the construction was £9 million. The centre currently receives approximately 380,000 visitors per year and in 2016 was listed in the

Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) is the professional body for architects in Scotland. History Previously the (lapsed) Architectural Institute of Scotland, it was re-founded in 1916 as the Incorporation of Architects in ...

(RIAS) top 10 of Scotland's top 100 buildings of the 20th century.

Facilities

* ''Art Gallery'': presents a programme of contemporary Scottish, British and international art. Notable exhibitions include

Mark Wallinger Mark Wallinger (born 25 May 1959) is a British artist. Having previously been nominated for the Turner Prize in 1995, he won in 2007 for his installation ''State Britain''. His work ''Ecce Homo'' (1999–2000) was the first piece to occupy the ...

, Jane and Louise Wilson,

Clare Woods Clare Woods (born 1972) is a British artist who lives and works in London and the Welsh borders. Some of her works are on a very large scale; one commissioned for the Olympic Delivery Authority in London is 83 metres long. Woods completed an ...

Beck's Futures Beck's Futures was a British art prize founded by London's Institute of Contemporary Arts and sponsored by Beck's beer given to contemporary artists. Prior to the establishment of the prize in 2000, Beck's had sponsored several exhibitions of con ...

prize winner

Roderick Buchanan Roderick Buchanan (born 1965) is a Scottish artist working in the fields of installation, film and photography. After attending Thomas Muir High School, Buchanan studied at the Glasgow School of Art in the 1980s, where he was part of a group l ...

Turner Prize The Turner Prize, named after the English painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist. Between 1991 and 2016, only artists under the age of 50 were eligible (this restriction was removed for the 2017 award) ...

winner

Simon Starling Simon Starling (born 1967) is an English conceptual artist and won the Turner Prize in 2005. Early life Simon Starling was born in 1967 in Epsom, Surrey. He studied photography and art at Maidstone College of Art from 1986 to 1987, then at Tre ...

, Turner Prize nominee

Fiona Banner Fiona Banner (born 1966), also known as The Vanity Press is a British artist. Her work encompasses sculpture, drawing, installation and text, and demonstrates a long-standing fascination with the emblem of fighter aircraft and their role within cul ...

, acclaimed video artist

Eija-Liisa Ahtila Eija-Liisa Ahtila (born 1959 in Hämeenlinna, Finland) is a contemporary visual artist and filmmaker who lives and works in Helsinki. Ahtila is most known for her multi-panel cinematic installations. She experiments with narrative storytellin ...

, and illustrator and textile designer

Johanna Basford Johanna Basford (born 1983) is a Scottish illustrator. Her illustrations are hand-drawn, predominantly in black and white, with pencils and pens. Basford's works can be found in products such as colouring books, wallpaper, beer labels and even ...

. * ''Print Studio'': DCA Print Studio is an open access workshop where artists of all abilities can create new work using both traditional equipment and state-of-the-art digital technology through courses, expert teaching, drop in days, residencies, collaborations and research. * ''Two-Screen Cinema'': DCA's cinema programme features the best in new cinematic releases and a unique programme of independent and world cinema, all selected by the DCA team. It also programmes and hosts the annual Discovery Film Festival and Dundead Horror Film Festival. *''Learning and public engagement programme:'' DCA connects audiences with contemporary art practice, critical writing and a wide range of "making" skills—print, film, animation, digital, photography and craft—and the pleasure and creative challenges that these activities bring. *''DCA Shop'': both in the DCA Building and online, DCA Shop brings together work by talented independents alongside contemporary homeware design brands, and sells a wide range of books and magazines on art and design, plus stationery and gifts for children. *''Visual Research Centre'': the University of Dundee runs a Visual Research Centre from DCA which is open to the public and staffed by researchers and PhD students affiliated with Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. *''Jute Café Bar'': a popular and lively destination for visitors and Dundee residents alike, serving brunch, coffee, lunch, dinner, drinks and cocktails.

References

External links

Dundee Visual Research Centre
{{Authority control 1999 establishments in Scotland Art galleries established in 1999 Arts centres in Scotland Arts organisations based in Scotland Contemporary art galleries in Scotland Museums in Dundee