First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visits family workshops at V&A Dundee

Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to free family workshops held at the V&A Dundee in a visit to the museum.

The First Minister met Home-Start Dundee, a charity which supports families with young children in the city through post-natal depression, isolation and bereavement.

V&A Dundee worked with the charity to help design the museum’s family activities before it opened in September last year.

Since then V&A has recorded 11,552 people taking part in the special family workshops led by freelance artists and designers.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Since opening, V&A Dundee has exceeded visitor number expectations, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to Dundee and putting the city on the world stage.

“Its nomination for Art Fund Museum of the Year is testament to its success.

“One of the visions of the architect was for the museum to be a ‘living room for the city’ so it’s wonderful that the free family workshops have proved so popular, helping people of all ages develop their own creativity.”

The family programme is supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery, with £1.55 million awarded since 2014.

Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “It’s important that everyone, regardless of age, is able to express their creative streak.

“I’m delighted that support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery is helping to run free family workshops at V&A Dundee.”

Philip Long, V&A Dundee director, added: “V&A Dundee was designed to be a museum to welcome everyone, and our families programme has been a huge success.

“It is so important that people of all ages have high-quality, free opportunities to explore their own creativity, and to take inspiration from the galleries and exhibitions at V&A Dundee.

“We are all looking forward to welcoming many more people to our free activities during the summer holidays, and to enjoy our major exhibition Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt.”