The establishment of a single dedicated body for Scotland's arts and culture sector today gained further momentum as Ewan Brown was named Chair of Creative Scotland, the new publicly owned limited company which will be established.
Working closely with the Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) and Scottish Screen (SS) over the coming months, Mr Brown will formally become Chair when the company is established. Creative Scotland will take responsibility for all the practical transition arrangements, including staffing, systems and processes.
The Joint Board will continue to be involved in the policy development of Creative Scotland and its Chair Richard Holloway will serve on the new board. SAC and SS will focus on managing day to day operations of the two respective organisations to ensure continuous and seamless support to the sector.
The Government intends to establish Creative Scotland as a statutory Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) through the Public Services Reform Bill to be introduced to Parliament next year.
Mr Brown, who will take no remuneration from Creative Scotland, has indicated that he plans to step down as Chair when NDPB status is established and the transition process is completed.
Minister for Culture Linda Fabiani said:
"I am delighted Ewan Brown has agreed to lead the establishment of Creative Scotland from a limited company towards a statutory body.
"As we enter the final phase of setting up Creative Scotland, I am confident that Ewan Brown will be an effective advocate of its aspirations to make Scotland a truly creative nation, valued at home and recognised abroad.
"He, together with the new company Board once appointed, will start work later this year on bringing the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen together and creating an innovative single organisation fit for the 21st century.
"The existing Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, chaired by Richard Holloway, will meanwhile concentrate on overseeing the continuing work of the two organisations. It is very much 'business as usual' for the sector until the two organisations are wound up and their functions fully transferred to Creative Scotland. It's essential during this period that existing functions such as payment of grants to the creative sector continue as usual.
"Working in tandem, Richard Holloway and Ewan Brown will be a dynamic force, driving forward and promoting a shared vision for Creative Scotland."
Ewan Brown, Chair of Creative Scotland, said:
"Creative Scotland represents a real opportunity to better serve and better appreciate Scotland's creative community. My focus will be on developing the role, remit and structure of this new organisation and establishing strong working relationships with other key bodies to support and nurture our creative sector."
Richard Holloway, Chair of the Joint Board of SAC and SS, said:
"My priorities are clear - ensuring a 'business as usual' approach for all those who rely on us for support. I look forward to working closely with Ewan Brown on this final phase of transition and ensuring consistency and cohesion between the two boards."
Ewan Brown CBE FRSE, is currently vice chairman of the Edinburgh International Festival. He has had a distinguished career in business and was chairman of Lloyds TSB Scotland until May 2008. Mr Brown joined Noble Grossart in 1969 and was an executive director of that company until December 2003. He is a non-executive director of Noble Grossart, Lloyds TSB Group and Stagecoach Group, and senior governor of the Court of the University of St Andrews.
Creative Scotland, when it becomes a NDPB, will be the national development body for the arts and culture, working in partnership with other organisations to support the creative industries. The Government proposes four roles for the new NDPB:
It will promote an increasingly wide understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts and culture
It will identify, support and develop talent and excellence in the arts and culture
It will seek to realise all the benefits of the arts and culture
It will work with partners to support the creative industries
The arrangements for establishing the new NDPB will undergo further Parliamentary scrutiny through the Public Services Reform Bill, enshrining the arms' length principle in legislation.
The amalgamation of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen into Creative Scotland is in line with the Scottish Government's commitment to reduce the size and simplify the organisational landscape of public services in Scotland.
Creative Scotland as a full statutory NDPB will inherit the £50 million grant in aid of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen.
The Scottish Government announced an extra £5 million in June - £2.5 million in 2009/10 and £2.5 million in 2010/11 - to support an Innovation Fund for the new organisation.