New Chief Executive of Creative Scotland is announced

Janet Archer has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Creative Scotland. She will take up her post on 1 July, 2013.

Currently Director, Dance for Arts Council England, Janet was the unanimous choice of the Creative Scotland Board for a post which attracted almost 100 applications.

Janet has worked extensively with projects in Scotland and currently chairs the artists-led organisation, The Work Room, based at Tramway in Glasgow. She has supported the British Council in programming their showcases in Edinburgh.

She has a broad knowledge of the wider arts and creative industries sector having recently been involved in developing Arts Council England’s ten year framework for the arts: Achieving Great Art For Everyone. She also led the team that delivered the State of the Arts 2012 conference: Artists Shaping the World.

Prior to joining Arts Council England she was Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Dance City, the Newcastle based National Dance Agency, where she project managed their £7.6m capital development.

A former dancer and choreographer, she set up and was artistic director of the Nexus Dance Company. At Arts Council England she conceived the “Dance Mapping” project which looked at the work, challenges and opportunities of over 1400 practitioners, companies and promoters throughout England.

Janet said of her new role:

“I am thrilled and excited at the chance to take on this important role for the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland.

“The passion and intelligence emerging out of recent debate has reinforced the vital role that Creative Scotland has to play as a partner and facilitator.

“These conversations are evidence of a genuine dynamic at work in the country, and a real desire to make the best use of the fantastic resources of intellectual and human capital available to us.

“I'm simply delighted to have the opportunity to contribute towards Scotland's creative future and look forward to working with people everywhere to unlock talent, drive opportunity, and grow artistic and cultural capital for this amazingly ambitious nation.”

Sir Sandy Crombie, Chair of Creative Scotland said:

“We are all looking forward to working with Janet and the senior management team in building on the feedback and relationships with arts practitioners throughout Scotland. She comes at a time of huge opportunities to highlight Scotland’s artistic excellence and achievements in the run up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and beyond.

“The board was impressed with her policymaking and partnership skills and knowledge across the whole field of the wider arts, screen and creative industries.”

http://www.creativescotland.org.uk/news/creative-scotland-appoints-new-chief-executive-06062013