The opening of a new virtual dome exhibit at Discovery Point has been hailed as a “proud moment for Dundee”.
The Dundee Dome Experience, which opens to the public on Thursday, takes visitors on a CGI journey through Dundee’s industrial past.
360° panoramic views of the city, waterfront, RRS Discovery and the River Tay today are then unveiled in stark contrast to the crowded and smoke-filled Dundee of 1901.
Visitors can expect a sensory 30-minute experience narrated by Perthshire actor Alan Cumming in which the busy waterfront port and crowded streets are shown as they were more than 100 years ago.
Gaia, a striking art installation of Earth by British artist Luke Jerram, also spins above the new gallery space, which was previously inaccessible.
Opening heralded as ‘proud moment’
The hope is visitors will learn about Dundee’s time as one of the UK’s busiest trading ports and get them thinking about the fragility of the planet and climate change.
The attraction is run by the charity Dundee Heritage Trust and the organisation’s chairman Jim Pettigrew says the development is hugely exciting.
He said: “The upgrade is brilliant; we’re so pleased to get it opened.
“We should not underestimate how hard this has been to get over the line with the impact of Covid and now the cost of living crisis.
“At the end of the day, it’s a new attraction for Dundee and it’s a proud moment for the city. We still have so much ambition for further developing what we offer at Discovery Point.
“It’s about freshening it up and having the courage and ambition to do things differently.
“You can’t stand still and in fact, it’s when times are tough we see the biggest reasons to push on and innovate.”
Mr Pettigrew added the exhibit recognises the “adventurous spirit” of the explorers aboard the RRS Discovery and nods to the fact they carried out some of the earliest research on climate change.
The cost of the upgrade has not been revealed by the charity but it’s the first stage of a wider transformation previously estimated at £12 million in total.
Once funding has been secured, the second stage will see a dedicated climate change and polar exploration galleries created, as well as a temporary exhibition space.
Meanwhile, significant conservation work on the Discovery ship itself will also need to be carried out.
How much does it cost?
Entry to Discovery Point is £12 but tickets for the Dundee Dome Experience will cost an extra £5 as part of the “adventure ticket package”.
The ticket is an annual pass permitting entry for a whole year.
There will be 12 sessions per day from 10.15am to 5.15pm.
It will be open to walk-ins only initially but online booking will be available from Monday.
‘New and improved experience’
Deirdre Robertson, chief executive at Dundee Heritage Trust, said: “We’ve been thoroughly looking forward to reopening the doors to the new and improved experience, welcoming returning locals and visitors alike.
“The Discovery Dome is an incredible visual experience, not to be missed. The city is bursting with history but to be able to immerse yourself in old Dundee with such accurate visuals and interesting details is very special.”
RRS Discovery
Built in Dundee in 1900, the RRS Discovery was the first ship specifically designed for scientific research in the Antarctic regions.
It was first launched from Dundee a year later in the first of three major scientific expeditions.
Funding for the first stage came from:
- Tay Cities Deal (funded by Scottish and UK Governments)
- Scottish Government
- ScottishPower Foundation
- National Fund of Acquisitions
- Art Fund.
The development was also supported by a number of other trusts, foundations and supporters.
Conversation