Published: 10 Feb 2017
Following an open recruitment process, we are delighted to announce that Claire Byers has been appointed as Interim Director of Arts & Engagement. She will take up the post on 6 March 2017.
Claire will be covering the post held by Leonie Bell who has been seconded to the Scottish Government for 18 months to help develop the National Cultural Strategy.
I’m extremely pleased that Claire will be joining the Creative Scotland team, bringing her extensive leadership experience and wide ranging knowledge and expertise to the role.- Janet Archer, Chief Executive
Claire has a longstanding track record of success working in the arts in both Scotland and the rest of the UK and she brings to Creative Scotland a great breadth and depth of knowledge of both policy and practice across art forms.
Formerly Deputy Director for BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Claire led on embedding a revised vision and values for the organisation, placing art and audiences at the centre of the BALTIC experience. She was also instrumental in securing the BALTIC’s status as one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations and in helping to deliver the hosting of the Turner Prize in 2011.
More recently, Claire spent 14 months on the Isle of Lewis as Transition Director for An Lanntair where she worked to create a new vision for the organisation and put in place the plans to deliver that vision.
She has also held senior cultural positions at One North East, helped to establish Northern Film & Media, developed and launched cultural funding programmes and has also been a regular visitor to Dundee in support of the V&A.
Of the appointment, Janet Archer, Creative Scotland’s Chief Executive said:
“Leonie Bell’s secondment to the Scottish Government presents a great opportunity for a key member of our Leadership Team to contribute to the development of Scotland’s national Cultural Strategy. The secondment creates a vacancy for an experienced and dynamic arts professional to take on responsibility for this key role at Creative Scotland, leading the Arts team which includes dance, literature, music, theatre, visual arts, and creative learning specialists.
"I’m extremely pleased that Claire will be joining the Creative Scotland team, bringing her extensive leadership experience and wide ranging knowledge and expertise to the role. She is tremendously excited at the prospect of working in Scotland again and I know she will make a significant and positive contribution over the coming 18 months.”
Claire Byers said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to take on the mantle of Interim Director of Arts & Engagement, not least to be returning to Scotland. It will be a privilege to build on all that Leonie and the exceptionally strong team at Creative Scotland have achieved. I am committed to ensuring that, even during challenging times, we maintain momentum, building on our commitment to support artists and arts organisations to ensure Scotland’s distinctive arts continue to thrive.”
Kenneth Fowler, Director of Communications
E-mail: Kenneth.fowler@creativescotland.com
Tel: 07970 557 960
