Janice Galloway and Vicky Feathersone join Creative Scotland interview panel

By BRIAN FERGUSON
Published on 08/02/2013 18:54

AUTHOR Janice Galloway and Vicky Featherstone, former artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland, will help choose the new head of Scotland’s troubled arts quango.

The pair, who were among Creative Scotland’s strongest critics last year, have agreed to join an interview panel who will choose a replacement for Andrew Dixon.

He resigned as chief executive of the Scottish Government’s flagship cultural agency two months ago following a rebellion of artists and organisations.

A new statement issued by Creative Scotland’s board said it would be advertising for a new chief executive later this month, with interviews planned for the final week in April.

Other members of the interview panel include Fiona Dalgetty, chief executive of the traditional music organisation Feis Rois, and Chris van der Kuyl, head of Dundee-based digital firm Brightsolid.

Creative Scotland’s board and the Scottish Government will also be represented on the panel.

A spokeswoman said: “The make-up of the interview panel reflects the board’s recently stated commitment to be inclusive of the communities it serves.”

The board has already ordered a major overhaul of the body following criticism of its management practices, the way specialist staff were being deployed and complicated funding programmes.

It had delayed moves to replace Mr Dixon for a period of reflection, including considering whether to bring in a temporary appointment to oversee the changes within the organisation.

Mr Dixon resigned shortly before Creative Scotland’s board was due to discuss how to deal with an artistic revolt over the running of the body and an internal report into management practices under the former chief executive’s regime.

A damning report, which was not published until after Dixon had resigned, revealed widespread problems due to “fractured” relationships with artists and a “gulf” between staff and senior management.

Iain Munro, one of two creative directors left at the organisation following the resignation of a third, Venu Dhupa, just before Christmas, has been placed in temporary charge of the organisation as the senior “accountable officer.”