Pictured (L-R): Jenny Gaskell, 2 millionth visitor from Ayrshire, Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee and Councillor Steven Rome, Dundee City Council.)
Six years after opening, ‘Scotland’s design museum’ says it is now responsible for half a million new visitors to Dundee
V&A Dundee has surpassed a new milestone, having welcomed 2 million visitors less than six years after first opening to the public in September 2018.
The 2 millionth visitor entered the museum yesterday, Thursday 23 May, and was met by museum Director Leonie Bell and Councillor Steven Rome who handed over museum gifts.
The Dundee museum claims over 500,000 of those 2 million visitors came to the city for the first time as part of a museum visit, and it has generated over £300 million of economic impact for Scotland.
The milestone comes shortly after it opened its major exhibition, Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, the final stop of the exhibition’s international tour.
V&A Dundee opened in September 2018 and welcomed its 1 millionth visitor in February 2020, shortly before the pandemic.
Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee called the milestone a “proud moment” against the backdrop of pandemic challenges.
“We are so happy to be welcoming the 2 millionth visitor to V&A Dundee. In less than six years V&A Dundee has grown to be an everyday part of its city, as well as a place for people to visit from near and far.
“We would like to thank everyone that visits and supports us, and we look forward to welcoming lots more visitors over summer.
Angus Robertson, Scottish Government Culture Secretary called V&A Dundee “an important part of Scotland’s cultural life and a significant contributor to the local economy and the country as a whole”.
“Now an unmistakable part of the city’s skyline, I know from my own visits that it is constantly evolving, and I would highly encourage anyone who has not already taken the time to see what V&A Dundee has to offer.”
An independent report commissioned for the museum’s fifth birthday in September 2023 found V&A Dundee had an economic impact of £304 million for Scotland, including £109 million for Dundee.
