Dundee Culture recognised at the Scottish Influencer Awards 2026

It was an absolute honour to be recognised at the Scottish Influencer Awards in the Arts & Culture category at the Radisson RED Glasgow.

Being recognised as part of the class of 2026/27 comes off the back of what has been a remarkable few years for Dundee Culture and the wider Dundee community.

To be nominated alongside such fantastic names - including category winner Kenny Boyle, fellow Dundonian Alastair Heather, as well as Lauren Smith and Heather Suttie - was incredibly special and a reminder of the strength of Scotland’s creative and cultural voices.

For me, this recognition was never simply about social media. It was about seeing Dundee, its stories, its people and its culture recognised on a national stage.

Showcasing Dundee to the world

Dundee Culture has been showcasing Dundee to the world since 2013.

What started as a hobby and passion project created by a young Dundonian who simply loved his city has grown into one of Dundee’s biggest digital platforms, reaching millions of people every month across social media and online.

Over the years, Dundee Culture has aimed to become a new voice for the city - one that breaks away from traditional boundaries and focuses on positivity, storytelling, culture, history, regeneration, creativity and community.

From major city developments and cultural milestones to hidden gems, local businesses and everyday stories, the goal has always remained the same: to showcase the best of Dundee to the world.

Helping save a cultural icon

One of the most significant moments in Dundee Culture’s history came in 2024 during the campaign surrounding Mills Observatory.

When the future of the observatory was placed under threat, Dundee Culture helped lead the public campaign to protect one of the city’s most treasured cultural and scientific landmarks.

The response from the public was extraordinary.

The campaign sparked widespread discussion around the importance of preserving cultural spaces within Dundee and demonstrated just how much Mills Observatory meant to generations of Dundonians.

What followed was one of the most remarkable chapters in the observatory’s history, with record-breaking visitor numbers during the 2024/25 season and long-term funding support helping safeguard its future alongside the efforts of wider partners and supporters across the city.

For Dundee Culture, it showed the true power social media and community storytelling can have when used positively.

Reigniting international connections

Another proud moment came through helping reignite international connections between Dundee and Toronto.

What started as conversations and outreach developed into Dundee gaining representation within a Toronto museum for the first time, strengthening cultural links between the two cities and celebrating Dundee’s international story abroad.

It was a reminder that Dundee’s voice, history and influence can extend far beyond Scotland.

Giving younger people opportunities

One of the most unexpected and rewarding moments in recent years came through an email from a young journalism student named Kacey.

After reaching out looking for experience within the industry, Kacey joined Dundee Culture as part of her studies at the University of Strathclyde.

What followed became one of the platform’s proudest success stories.

Through her work with Dundee Culture, Kacey helped contribute to articles, ideas and content creation while developing her confidence and experience within journalism and digital media.

Kacey graduated with an A, with Dundee Culture playing a part in supporting her throughout the module.

The experience also helped shape a wider ambition for Dundee Culture moving forward - giving younger voices, aspiring journalists and creatives opportunities to gain real experience within media and storytelling.

More than a platform

Over the years, Dundee Culture has also led and supported campaigns designed to make a positive difference across the city.

From the Stay Safe Dundee campaign during the pandemic to the Sunny Dundee fundraiser and ongoing community-focused storytelling, the platform has always aimed to use its reach in a way that benefits the city and the people within it.

Today, Dundee Culture continues to evolve through original news articles, features, interviews and digital storytelling following the relaunch of the website in 2024.

But at its heart, the mission remains exactly the same as it did back in 2013.

To celebrate Dundee.

To support Dundee.

And to continue showcasing Dundee to the world.