Another Oor Wullie has found its home as The McManus welcomed its very own statue.
The Oor Artifacts Wullie was unveiled this morning at Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum.
Leisure and Culture Dundee were the successful bidders in the auction last month and finally got the chance to show off the striking tribal mask-adorned Wullie.
We have decided to put him on show so that everyone can come and touch him and see him and we’re delighted to see how excited everyone is.
Around 20 pupils from Dens Road Primary School joined Lord Provost Bob Duncan and head of cultural services Billy Gartley for the official unveiling.
Mr Duncan said the event proved the statues remain wildly popular even though the Bucket Trail is over.
He said: “People are still just as interested now in the sculptures and I think this one staying here will turn out to be a real coup for the museum.
“We have decided to put him on show so that everyone can come and touch him and see him and we’re delighted to see how excited everyone is.”
Leisure and Culture Dundee paid £8,000 in their successful bid for the statue but Mr Gartley admitted they were worried they would be outbid.
He said: “Some of the other statues were going for high prices so we were relieved to get it for the price we did.
“It seems fitting that we now have Oor Artifacts in place in The McManus as a reminder of what a phenomenon the trail has been.
“Appropriately, the inspiration for Oor Artifacts came from Wullie’s visit to the museum, so there is no better place for him to be.
“The total amount raised for the ARCHIE foundation has been really incredible and we have been delighted to have been a part of the project from start to finish.”
Oor Artifacts will be on show in the museum until May next year, after which a decision will be made on where to house him – depending on his popularity.
