Creative Scotland readies for July launch
Creative Scotland is set to be formally established this July 1 following a period of slow burn development, most recently with the appointment of Sir Sandy Crombie as chair of the organisations board.
Working a maximum of 10 days per month Crombie will be entitled to a hefty remuneration of £250 per day in the role following his retirement from the insurance industry in 2009.
Board members include Robin MacPherson, Professor of Screen Media at Napier; Gwilym Gibbons, director of Shetland Arts Development Agency; Dr Gary West, a traditional musician and broadcaster; Ruth Wishart, journalist; Steve Grimmond, director of housing and communities at Fife Council; Barclay Price, Scottish Office Director of Arts & Business and Professor Gayle McPherson, Head of the Department of Cultural Business and Chair in Cultural Policy at Glasgow Caledonian University.
The government backed body has been tasked with leading the development of Scottish arts, creative and screen industries and will do so by offering investment opportunities for practitioners through a range of grants, bursaries, loans and equity.
According to their manifesto the non departmental public body will ensure that the work of artists and creators is accessible and have promised to broaden participation in creative activities whilst developing the contribution of culture to national identity.