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The opening of V&A Dundee will be one of the big arts stories in 2018 and it's in Dundee that Samira Ahmed begins today's programme which looks at how arts organisations nationwide are seeking to make themselves open and relevant to their local communities.

In Dundee, Samira visits the new V&A Dundee community garden in the company of volunteers Denis Harkins and Derek Cassie and Communities Producer Peter Nurick; she talks to Sarah Saunders, Director of Learning and Engagement at V&A Dundee, and Cameron Price about the museum's first public engagement project - Living Room For The City; and she joins young engineers Emma Evans and Ross Tolland on the deck of Captain's Scott's RRS Discovery to hear about their contribution to V&A Dundee's most recent public engagement project - the Scottish Design Challenge.

Natalie Walton, former Head of Learning at the Hepworth Wakefield, winner of the Museum of the Year 2017 award, explains the steps The Hepworth took in the year before it opened to ensure it would be a welcome addition to the lives of local people.

Alex Clifton, the artistic director of Storyhouse - the new and long desired arts centre in Chester - and Michael Green, the executive editor of local newspaper, The Chester Chronicle, discuss why the new 拢37 million pounds venue has received such strong local support.

Emma Horsman, Project Director of The Cultural Spring in Sunderland and South Tyneside, reveals the work and thinking behind Creative People and Places - Arts Council England's latest approach to arts funding which puts local people first.

Presenter: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Ekene Akalawu

Image: V&A Dundee, Construction - September 2017
Image Credit: Ross Fraser McLean.