Radio 1 is set to make a return to Dundee with the inaugural Big Weekend exhibition, known as Radio 1’s Big Weekend Experience. The event will be hosted at V&A Dundee and is scheduled to run from Friday, 1 December, to 7 January 2024.
The exhibition will delve into the highlights of Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2023 in Dundee, showcasing contributions from local community groups and partners, the performers, and Radio 1 listeners. The public has been invited to contribute their cherished festival memorabilia, photos, and items.
Collaborating with V&A Dundee’s Learning Team, Radio 1 is also working on a virtual version of the exhibition, accessible online. Additionally, an exhibition Audio Guide, hosted by Greg James and Arielle Free, will be available on BBC Sounds from 1 December.
Leading up to the launch of Radio 1’s Big Weekend Experience, Arielle Free will broadcast live from Dundee on Monday, 27 November.
Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says: “Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2023 was a huge success generating a tremendous economic boost for Dundee, so it’s incredibly special that we are returning there for this exciting legacy project.
“This has been a mammoth task and I’d like to thank our wonderful partners V&A Dundee for helping us create something truly iconic. I can’t wait for the public to see Radio 1’s Big Weekend Experience!”
Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee, says: “V&A Dundee are delighted to be working in partnership with Radio 1 to bring the Big Weekend Experience to life, just 6 months on from the amazing Big Weekend that was filled with music, fashion, fun and sun, a highlight for so many in Dundee and across Scotland this Summer.
“This is set to be an uplifting and joyful exhibition, co-created in real time with festival goers and listeners of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, we hope it will feel real, relevant, and reflective of this special cultural experience that so many shared – Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2023 in Dundee.
“We want V&A Dundee to be a gathering place for everyone, so we’re really happy to be ending our 5th birthday year with this free and fun-filled exhibition where people will be able to revel in Big Weekend Dundee all over again. “
Radio 1’s Big Weekend Experience aligns with the BBC’s commitment to producing more content across the UK, aiming to better reflect, represent, and serve all parts of the country. As part of this strategy, BBC Radio 1 has been broadcasting seven days a week from Salford since 2022 and recently launched a new show from Cardiff.
