Published: 08 Mar 2016
Following an open recruitment process, we are delighted to announce that Alan Morrison has been appointed as our new Head of Music.
Alan will take up the post on 20 June 2016, ahead of the retirement of Ian Smith, the current Head of Music, in July.
With a lifelong passion for music, Alan was, until recently, Group Arts Editor for the Herald and Times Group where he was responsible for all arts, literary and cultural content across The Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times.
During this time Alan developed partnerships with Celtic Connections, Wickerman Festival, T in the Park, Connect Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, National Galleries of Scotland, Aye Write and many more. He also sits on the panel to select unsigned bands for the Wickerman Festival and T in the Park.
I see music as a central pillar of Scottish identity, of who we are and how the world sees us.- Alan Morrison
Alan created the Sunday Herald’s Top 50 Scottish Albums of the Year and, prior to his time at the Herald, he worked as Reviews and Contributing Editor of Empire Magazine, as a film critic for the Daily Record and as Editor of The List.
Of the appointment, Leonie Bell, Creative Scotland’s Director of Arts & Engagement said:
“We received a large number of very high calibre applications for this post. Alan demonstrated a deep-rooted passion for and knowledge of music in and from Scotland, along with a clear conviction that music in all its forms is part of who we are and who can be as individuals, communities and as nations.
"I’m extremely pleased that he will be joining the Creative Scotland team and using this knowledge to lead the music team and to help support Scotland’s musicians, music organisations, festivals and the arts more broadly. He will, of course, be building on the significant legacy that Ian Smith has delivered over the past 11 years, for which we thank Ian.”
Alan Morrison said:
"I’m absolutely delighted to be appointed as Head of Music and to be joining Creative Scotland in one of the most important jobs in the arts. Throughout my life, I have been immersed in all types of music, from classical to contemporary, and this role is a great opportunity to support a sector that means so much to me, both personally and professionally.
"I see music as a central pillar of Scottish identity, of who we are and how the world sees us. It's important that musicians are recognised as the vital artists that they are and for the key role that they play in the life of modern Scotland."
Kenneth Fowler
Director of Communications
Kenneth.fowler@creativescotland.com
07970 557 960
Photo of Alan Morrison by Gordon Terris.
