This feature was originally published in the Evening Telegraph on 10 December 2024.
In the eleven years I’ve run Dundee Culture, one of the last things I ever expected was to have a mural in Dundee’s West End dedicated to my work.
On Sunday morning, I was over the moon to open my Instagram notifications and see a post from Symon Mathieson, known professionally as SYKE, a graffiti artist in Dundee. He had very kindly reimagined one of his newest artworks in the city’s West End as a tribute to me and my work with Dundee Culture.
SYKE has been an incredible advocate for public art in the city, and to be honoured with a mural to the work that I do was truly humbling.
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate more about in Dundee, in recent years, is the growing presence of public art displayed across the city. It reflects our creative spirit and gives spaces new energy and meaning. Through my writing, I’ve often explored ideas for what else could be happening in Dundee, and there’s one vision I keep coming back to: a dedicated graffiti alley.
Dundee already has spaces for graffiti art, such as DPM Graffiti Park just off the Hilltown. This is one of the longest legal graffiti spaces in the UK and hosts the annual Dundee Graffiti Jam, run by Adam Milroy.
DPM is an amazing space, but I feel it’s tucked away and doesn’t get the visibility it deserves. To fully showcase Dundee’s artistic talent, I believe we need a more prominent, open, and central space dedicated to public art, such as a graffiti alley.
One place that has always captured my imagination for this idea is Mary Ann Lane. Every time I drive out of the city centre, I notice the potential of its vast space—a perfect canvas for an official graffiti alley.
There’s already graffiti art there, but imagine transforming the entire area. It could become a dynamic space filled with murals, pathways, and parkland, hosting vendors, community art installations, and events. It would be a hub for creativity and a fantastic way to revitalise this corner of Dundee.
And even if Mary Ann Lane isn’t the spot, there are plenty of other places in Dundee that could host a project like this.
This month, Dundee is celebrating ten years as a UNESCO City of Design and with over 700 permanent pieces of public art already in the city, adding a dedicated graffiti alley would be a brilliant addition to Dundee’s design scene.
It would not only showcase our vibrant artistic talent but also cement our reputation as a city that embraces creativity in all its forms.
So why not make it happen?
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