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Members appointed to Creative Scotland
05/07/2012
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop today announced the appointment of four new members and three reappointed members to the Creative Scotland Board.
The new members are:
Fergus Muir - educated at Edinburgh University, Edinburgh College of Art and the City University, London. He worked in the arts in London for ten years, and then joined the Home Civil Service in 1992, where his responsibilities included Head of Architecture in the Department for Culture Media and Sport. In 2003 Fergus was sent to Iraq where he worked as a member of the cultural team in the interim Iraq Government. In 2004 Fergus was awarded an OBE for his work in Iraq and was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. In 2007 Fergus returned to his birthplace – the island of Islay in Argyll – where he runs a tourism-based business. Since returning to Islay Fergus has worked towards learning Gaelic and is President of the Islay Gaelic Choir.
May Miller – brings to the board experience from her long career in broadcasting both in the public and private sector. As Creative Director of Arts and Factual at BBC Scotland she oversaw an extensive range of output including the Culture Show, Artworks, Live 8 and the Film Programme with Jonathan Ross. Most recently she was Head of Talkbackthames Scotland and prior to that, Head of Mentorn Scotland. May is currently deputy chair of Bafta in Scotland, a member of RTS and a graduate of Common Purpose. Her main interests are music, architecture, film, TV and Northern Renaissance art.
Richard Scott – brings to the board over 25 years’ experience in the creative industries with a background in design and animation. Richard is the Managing Director and Executive Producer of Axis Animation, Scotland’s fastest growing animation studio. The studio has won BAFTA, Cannes Gold Lions and London International awards. Richard has spent the last four years growing the studio’s international reputation in Europe and the USA by building relationships with well-known names in the entertainment industry such as Warner Bros, Microsoft Games Studios, Disney, Sega and Sony Pictures. Throughout this time Richard has also been involved with Scottish colleges and art schools as well as speaking at a range of creative industry events.
Sandra Gunn – brings to the board extensive experience at all levels in the delivery of creative education. Sandra is an external examiner for Robert Gordon University and an associate assessor for Education Scotland. She is also the curriculum director at City of Glasgow College where she is responsible for the portfolio of art and design, creative industries, sport and food and hospitality. Sandra has also delivered papers on various aspects of 'art and design' education and economic opportunities in India, Hong Kong and China. Sandra initially trained as a fine artist, followed in mid career by a Master of Architecture reflecting her expertise and interests in architecture and design. She has participated in the commissioning of major public art works in Glasgow and has designed stonemasonry pieces installed at Highgrove House.
These new appointees join Peter Cabrelli, Steve Grimmond and Barclay Price whose terms as members of the Board have been extended for another four years and expire on 30 June 2016.
Peter Cabrelli – brings to the board over 25 years’ international business experience, most recently as Group Human Resources Director of HBOS plc where he was closely involved in the large and complex merger of Bank of Scotland and the Halifax. Educated at St Andrews University and the London School of Economics, Peter has wide board-level experience, including directorship of several service subsidiaries of the Pearson Group. He has a broad view of business and cultural practices, having previously worked in London, Europe, Africa, and the Middle and Far East, including spells with ITT in Brussels and with Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong. Peter combines keen and regular theatre-going (he is Director of the National Theatre of Scotland) with an active involvement in sport and recreation as Chairman of the National Playing Fields Association in Scotland. He is also a Non-executive Member at the University of St Andrews and is Chairman of the Trustees of the university’s pension plan and was a member of the Board of Creative Scotlan 2009 Limited.
Steve Grimmond – brings broad experience as Executive Director, Environment, Enterprise and Communities at Fife Council with responsibilities spanning culture and sport, planning, economic development, transportation, housing, environment, sustainability and emergency planning. He has also held a range of senior positions in the public sector. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts and Science. He is a Governor of Adam Smith College; a Board Member of the Scottish Sports Council Trust Company and The Collective Gallery, Edinburgh. He paints and has been a musician in his spare time.
Barclay Price – brings wide experience spanning employment in a bank; setting up and performing in a community-based theatre company; supporting the creation of small craft businesses; developing cultural policy; and engaging business with the arts. He worked in London for over 25 years and returned to Scotland to be Depute Director of the Scottish Arts Council. In 2001 he became the Scottish Office Director of Arts & Business, an organisation that works to encourage business engagement with, and support for, the cultural sector.
These appointments and reappointments will be for four years and will run from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2016.
These posts are part-time and attract no remuneration for a time commitment of around 12 days per year.
None of the new appointees or reappointed members hold any other ministerial appointments.
Professor Gayle McPherson and Gwilym Gibbons are standing down from the Creative Scotland Board.
Creative Scotland Chair, Sir Sandy Crombie, said:
"I am delighted to welcome May, Fergus, Richard and Sandra to the Board of Creative Scotland. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from a variety of different backgrounds which will be of great benefit to Creative Scotland in delivering our ambitions for arts and culture in Scotland. I also welcome the reappointment of Steve Grimmond, Peter Cabrelli and Barclay Price for another four years on the Board.
“I would also like to thank Professor Gayle McPherson and Gwilym Gibbons for their significant and valuable contribution to the Creative Scotland Board over the past two years and I wish them well for the future."
Related information:
Creative Scotland is Scotland’s national body for the arts, screen and creative industries. It is governed by the Creative Scotland Board whose members are responsible for overall strategy and for ensuring the body takes forward its vision.
These appointments are regulated by the Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. None of the new appointees or reappointed members have had any political activity in the last five years.
Further information about Creative Scotland is available here