Amanda is responsible for establishing an overview of the visual arts sector in Scotland and providing advice and support to artists and arts organisations wishing to develop their work. This year she will be leading a sectoral review to identify current challenges and future opportunities for the visual arts in Scotland, working with key partners to determine how best to address these.
Amanda is currently involved in the establishment of the Portfolio of Regularly Funded Organisations, a major focus over the summer months. She is also Chair of the Curatorial Board for GENERATION, a major, nation-wide exhibition programme showcasing some of the best and most significant artists to have emerged from Scotland over the last 25 years and delivered in partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland, Glasgow Life and more than 60 participating venues across the country.
Amanda also Chairs the Scotland and Venice partnership, the working group for the Richard Demarco Archive and sits on the Steering Group that is bringing the Turner Prize to Tramway in 2015.
Amanda works with a team of Visual Arts Officers including Anne Petrie, Lottie Thorne and Sarah MacIntyre and all members of the team are happy to offer advice to individual artists and / or organisations working in the visual arts.
Amanda studied Art History at St Andrews University and joined the Visual Arts Department of the Scottish Arts Council’s in 1990. As an Officer within the Department she took the lead in developing policies to support the individual artist, managing the Artists Awards and Small Assistance Grants, the international residencies programme and the public art development scheme.
As Director of Visual Arts she developed the first Visual Arts Strategy for Scotland in 2002 and initiated a number of high profile projects including Scotland and Venice, established in 2003. Amanda’s role on joining Creative Scotland has included leading on the International programme and the establishment of the Artists’ Bursaries and Public Art R&D and SITED programmes.
