Dundee makes City of Culture 2017 shortlist

Dundee has been shortlisted for City of Culture status in 2017. Picture: Ian Rutherford

• Dundee makes City of Culture 2017 shortlist, but Aberdeen misses out

• Other cities to make cut are Leicester, Hull and Swansea Bay, with winner announced in November

The original list of 11, which included Aberdeen, were whittled down by a panel chaired by Grange Hill creator Phil Redmond. The Granite City missed out on nomination as Dundee, Leicester, Hull and Swansea Bay were selected for the chance to receive the honour.

Artist's impression of the planned V&A Museum in Dundee. Picture: Contributed

Chester, East Kent, Hastings and Bexhill on Sea, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton and Southend-on-Sea were the other cities in the longlist.

VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead praised Dundee’s inclusion in the shortlist.

“To have reached this stage, in what is a highly competitive process, is testament to the hard work of the team and their dedication to the strong cultural offering of the city,” he said.

“Dundee is a city which has invested in cultural-led urban renewal, with the new V&A in particular already attracting significant interest from across the cultural sector.”

The City of Culture award is given in the hope of attracting major events, investment and media attention to the city.

Londonderry is currently the UK’s City of Culture, and is to host the Turner Prize, a theatre production from Frank Cottrell-Boyce and BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

The winner of the 2017 award is expected to be announced in November.