WHALE Arts is delighted to announce the appointment of Leah Black as Chief Executive. Leah is taking over from Allan Farmer who served as Director from January 2014 to April 2018.
Leah Black brings a wealth of experience in cultural production and strategy, most recently working as a Creative Industries Officer (Craft) for Creative Scotland. Previously, Leah served as Director of Upland CIC, a rural-based visual art and craft development organisation working across Dumfries and Galloway leading the CIC in its evolution from Spring Fling CIC in 2013-15. Currently a Warden of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh, Leah previously served as a board member of The Stove Network in Dumfries and Craft Scotland. With a background as a designer and maker Leah ran a jewellery business after graduating from Glasgow School of Art and has acted as a mentor on Vanilla Ink jewellery incubator programme.
As Chief Executive, Leah will lead the organisation through an exciting new period of development and ensure that WHALE Arts is the creative heart of a vibrant buy ativan now thriving community.
Leah Black said: “WHALE Arts is an organisation with a wonderful reputation so I am honoured and delighted to have been appointed into this role. I am looking forward to working alongside the dedicated and experienced staff, getting to know the local community and together embracing the exciting task of leading WHALE Arts through its next phase.”
Michelle Herron, Chair of WHALE Board said: “It has been a great pleasure to work with Allan over the years and while we are sad to lose him, we are delighted he is going onto a role that will allow him to further develop his interests and expertise. Leah’s appointment from a very competitive recruitment process is very exciting. I feel her skills, knowledge and expertise will work well with the excellent staff team, allowing them to work together to continue the great work WHALE Arts does as well as develop new innovative approaches to support the community and our stakeholders.”
For more information please contact Jenny Salmean, Administrator – jenny@whalearts.co.uk
