Right in front of you, you’ll spot two striking, cube-like modern buildings with lots of windows-look for pale concrete and glass forms, stacked almost like giant art supplies waiting to be used!
Welcome to the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, or as Dundee locals say, DJCAD-a place where creative ideas have been bouncing around for decades, probably faster than a paint-splattered ping-pong ball. If you listen closely, the energy here has a hum of excitement that’s been growing since the 1850s, when people in Dundee first dreamed of starting an art school. Back then, art lessons happened wherever space could be found: in the High School, the YMCA, even down cobbled side streets, all beneath flickering gas lamps and the promise of new ideas.
But Dundee’s artists were determined to have a home. The turning point came in 1888 with the creation of the Dundee Technical Institute. Art was part of its evening classes, taught by the likes of George Malcolm, whose students probably carried more charcoal on their sleeves than in their pockets. In 1892, the school had its first full-time art master, Thomas Delgaty Dunn-a man probably remembered for raising the bar and, occasionally, eyebrows.
Over time, demand for art classes exploded. Squeezed by cramped spaces, Dundee’s art crowd started dreaming big. So, in 1907, they rattled collection tins and launched a fundraising campaign. Then, in a twist more dramatic than a plot from an art soap opera, the school received a whopping £60,000 bequest from James Duncan of Jordanstone. You’d think that would be good news, but the city got tangled up in a legal tug-of-war over whether the existing college could use the money. The debate dragged on for so long, the paintbrushes probably gathered dust-until finally, the 1930s rolled around and everyone shook hands. Plans were drawn up for a bold, modern home for art, but again-drama! World War II slowed everything, and construction only started in 1953.
Finally, in 1955, students set foot in the new Crawford Building, surrounded by the clatter of hammers and the scent of fresh paint. The building itself became a symbol of creative persistence, standing tall as the heart of DJCAD. By the 1970s, the college had a sibling-the Matthew Building, with sleek lines and big windows, perfect for gazing out and imagining your next masterpiece (or just daydreaming through a boring lecture).
The college became officially known as Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in 1961, and by 1994, it had joined the University of Dundee, adding an artistic twist to the campus. Today, DJCAD is a hub where students let their imagination loose: you’ll find future animators, fine artists, graphic designers, jewelers, textile magicians, interior architects, digital dreamers, and even aspiring crime scene sketch artists! And don’t even get me started on the workshops-ceramics, woodwork, digital making, photography, group study rooms, and even a foundry. Basically, if you can sculpt, sketch, stitch, animate, or print it, you can probably do it somewhere in these buildings.
But what really makes DJCAD buzz is the collision of science and art. Here, artists mingle with future doctors, philosophers pair up with designers, and unusual ideas come together-sometimes spectacularly, sometimes hilariously. The list of alumni reads like an art lover’s fantasy dinner party: think of Johanna Basford, whose doodles have filled millions of colouring books, or Albert Watson, whose camera lens has snapped some of the world’s most iconic images. Staff and students alike have gone on to exhibitions around the globe, but many start out in the sparkling galleries right here-the Cooper Gallery, Bradshaw Art Space, and more.
DJCAD’s Degree Show every May transforms these buildings into a creative playground: paint splatters are practically encouraged, and the whole city turns out to see what the students have dreamed up this year. No wonder DJCAD was voted Educational Event of the Year in 2013-it’s an explosion of ideas you won’t see anywhere else!
So as you stand here, soak in the spirit of all those years of imagination, determination, and more than a few creative arguments. This is where Dundee’s artists-and a fair share of mischief-makers-have left their mark and are still hard at work. Safe to say, here at DJCAD, inspiration hides around every corner, so keep your eyes open and your mind ready. Who knows-you might just catch the next big idea breezing by!
Ready to delve deeper into the structure, courses offered at djcad or the facilities? Join me in the chat section for an enriching discussion.
