ANDREW BATCHELOR: Bowie, Dundee and a moment I never saw coming

When I started Dundee Culture back in 2013 at the age of just 12, I could never have imagined that one day I would be collaborating with the official social media account of one of the greatest musicians of all time.

Yet, somehow, that is exactly what happened this week.

Ahead of the opening of David Bowie: On Tour at V&A Dundee, Dundee Culture collaborated with Bowie’s official Instagram account on a series of posts showcasing the exhibition and the wider Bowie Town celebrations taking place across the city.

It came completely unexpectedly, but it was something I welcomed with open arms.

After all, anything that helps raise awareness of what’s happening in Dundee, particularly on an international stage, is something incredibly special.

To see Dundee Culture appearing alongside the official account of David Bowie, followed by millions of people around the world, is something I never, ever expected to happen.

It’s certainly one of those moments that makes me reflect on just how far Dundee Culture has come over the past 13 years.

But beyond the excitement of the collaboration itself, I think there’s something much bigger worth celebrating.

Dundee has truly embraced David Bowie.

What I particularly love about the arrival of this exhibition is that the celebrations haven’t been confined to V&A Dundee.

Venues across the city have come together to celebrate Bowie’s extraordinary legacy, from the programme of music and events at CANVAS to the special appearance by guitarist Earl Slick at the Marryat Hall later this month.

There’s something wonderful about seeing different venues and organisations getting involved in a major cultural event.

It’s exactly the sort of collaboration Dundee should be encouraging more often.

And then, of course, there’s the exhibition itself.

Having had the opportunity to explore David Bowie: On Tour ahead of its opening, I genuinely believe it has the potential to go down as one of the greatest exhibitions V&A Dundee has hosted since opening in 2018.

The collection is extraordinary, featuring iconic costumes, instruments, photographs and personal items offering a fascinating insight into one of the most influential artists in music history.

But my favourite part of the entire exhibition isn’t necessarily one of the famous costumes or instruments.

It’s the section dedicated to Bowie’s performance at Dundee’s Caird Hall in May 1973.

To see such an important moment in Dundee’s musical history recognised within an exhibition of this international significance is absolutely fantastic.

For me, it makes the exhibition feel that little bit more special.

It takes a global cultural icon and connects his extraordinary story directly to the city hosting the exhibition.

And I think there’s a really important lesson in that for V&A Dundee.

I’ve always believed the museum is at its strongest when it finds ways to connect its exhibitions with Dundee itself.

Look at the tremendous response to the Dundee Tapestry, which attracted huge public interest and proved just how much appetite there is for exhibitions celebrating the city’s people, history and identity.

The tapestry was so popular that plans were made to bring it back following its initial display.

Of course, not every exhibition needs to be exclusively about Dundee. Far from it.

Part of the museum’s purpose is to bring internationally significant exhibitions to Scotland, introducing audiences to stories and collections they might otherwise never get the chance to experience.

But where there is an opportunity to establish a genuine connection with Dundee, I think it should be embraced.

That’s why I believe David Bowie: On Tour should serve as something of a blueprint for future exhibitions.

The museum has brought a major international collection to the city, incorporated a meaningful piece of Dundee’s own history and encouraged a wider programme of activity involving venues across the city.

It feels like an exhibition that belongs in Dundee, rather than simply one that happens to be taking place here.

Looking ahead, there’s already plenty to be excited about, with Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery arriving at V&A Dundee in March 2027.

That exhibition promises another fascinating opportunity to explore the influence of an internationally renowned creative figure, and I hope the museum continues building on the momentum generated by Bowie.

For Dundee to attract exhibitions of this calibre is something worth celebrating, but creating meaningful connections between those exhibitions and the wider city makes them even more valuable.

As for Dundee Culture’s unexpected collaboration with David Bowie’s official account, it’s certainly a moment I’ll remember for a very long time.

More than anything, though, I’m delighted that it provided another opportunity to showcase Dundee to audiences across the world.

Because ultimately, that’s why I started Dundee Culture in the first place.

And if there’s one thing this week has reinforced for me, it’s that Dundee has some extraordinary stories to tell.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little stardust to help the rest of the world discover them.