Film-maker appointed new head of art college

AN AWARD-WINNING photographer and film-maker has been appointed the new head of one of Scotland's leading art colleges.

Professor Paul Harris, whose awards include a Scottish Bafta for best new documentary talent and a British Academy Award for best short film, has taken up the top post at Robert Gordon University's Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen.

He joins Gray's from Abertay University, where he was creative director of the Institute of Arts, Media and Computer Games from 2002.

Prof Harris began his career in television, working for Channel 4, Central Television and the BBC, before teaching media production. He was head of film and television at Edinburgh College of Art from 1996 to 2002. He has also served on and chaired a number of panels and boards.

He said yesterday that, as the new head of the North-east's 125-year-old art institution, his aim was to establish Gray's as a hub of creative enterprise, not only across Scotland but in northern Europe.

Prof Harris added: "The creative energy of our students and academics is of great encouragement as I look to the future of the school."

He added: "Gray's School of Art produces a steady stream of talented professionals, who drive the regions creative and cultural economy.

"I hope to lead the school in its vision to become a leading art and design school for Northern Europe, whilst continuing to develop new talent in not only modern communication forms, such as graphic design and digital media, but in traditional crafts and fine arts ,including painting, printmaking and ceramics."