Two new committees have been established at the Scottish Arts Council (SAC), consolidating the previous artform committees under the umbrellas of Creative Arts and Performing Arts. The role of the professional industry figures sitting on the committees is to monitor the aims and objectives of the council, providing an overview of investment into artists and arts organisations. According to the SAC, most funding decisions will be delegated to individual departments, but the committees will evaluate awards over £250,000. Meanwhile, core-funded grants and awards over £1 million will be agreed upon by council members. Welcoming the new committee members, SAC Director Graham Berry commented: ‘The work of the new committees will be challenging: as well as taking an overview of artform activities, they will be asked to ensure that policies which cover every aspect of the council’s work, such as audiences, disability and cultural diversity, are taken into account in the decisions that we make.’ The new committee members are, as follows: Creative Arts Interim Chair: John Mulgrew, Director of Educational and Social Services, East Ayrshire Council Carol Dunbar, tapestry weaver and printmaker Colin Greenslade, Exhibitions Co-ordinator, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh Bob Grieve, visual artists and Chair, Transmission Gallery Phillip Long, Senior Curator, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Katherine Pearson, Director, Creative Partnerships, Durham Performing Arts Interim Chair: Bill Speirs, General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress Sheila Allan, Director, the Space, Dundee College Arthur Cormack, Director, Féisean nan Gaidheal John Evans, Human Resources Director, Global Supply Scotland Guinness VDV Ronald Gurr, Business Development Director, DIG Limited Matthew Lenton, Artistic Director, Vanishing Point Kathy McArdle, Artistic Director, the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen Margaret O'Connor, Culture and Community Learning, East Lothian Council MORE INFO: www.scottisharts.org.uk