Janet Archer, currently Director, Dance at Arts Council England, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, the body responsible for Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries. She will take up her post on July 1. She replaces Andrew Dixon who quit last December following trenchant criticism from leading Scottish arts practitioners about the body’s policies. Archer’s Scottish arts experience include chairing the artists-led organisation, The Work Room, based at Tramway in Glasgow, and supporting the British Council in programming their showcases in Edinburgh.

Archer was recently involved in developing Arts Council England’s ten year framework for the arts: Achieving Great Art For Everyone and also led the team that delivered the State of the Arts 2012 conference: Artists Shaping The World. Prior to joining that she was Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Dance City, the Newcastle based National Dance Agency, where she project managed their £7.6 million capital development.

Archer said, “The passion and intelligence emerging out of recent debate has reinforced the vital role that Creative Scotland has to play as a partner and facilitator.  These conversations are evidence of a genuine dynamic at work in the country, and a real desire to make the best use of the fantastic resources of intellectual and human capital available to us. I’m simply delighted to have the opportunity to contribute towards Scotland’s creative future and look forward to working with people everywhere to unlock talent, drive opportunity, and grow artistic and cultural capital for this amazingly ambitious nation.”