Creative chief quits crisis-hit arts body

Published on 21/12/2012 12:00

A “KEY” architect of the shake-up in funding which sparked a row between Creative Scotland and artists has resigned.

Creative director Venu Dhupa has quit, just days after a damning internal report into the running of the arts body was published.

The report revealed widespread problems due to “fractured” relationships with artists and a “gulf” between staff and senior management.

Ms Dhupa is the second high-profile scalp to go as the crisis surrounding the arts body deepens. Chief executive Andrew Dixon also quit less than three weeks ago.

She was appointed as one of three directors of creative development in 2010, earning a £70,000 salary.

The spotlight was focussed on the nation’s arts body in early October when it emerged a number of Scotland’s leading artists, including James Macmillan, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and John Byrne, had written a letter accusing the body of “ill-conceived decision-making and a lack of empathy and regard for Scottish culture”.