The board of Culture and Sport Glasgow, the charitable company created to deliver culture and sport in Glasgow, met earlier this week.
Culture and Sport Glasgow will come into existence on 1 April 2007 and be fully operational by 31 May 2007. Culture and Sport Glasgow will take over the delivery of all services and facilities currently delivered by the Council’s Cultural and Leisure Services, with the new company incorporating the management of the Council-owned golf courses.
The rationale for this move is to improve and extend the cultural and sportservices on offer; develop new partnerships and to widen the funding base through improved commercial development of retail and other trading opportunities and fundraising.
The company appointed Lord Provost Liz Cameron as its chair during the course of the meeting. Bridget McConnell, currently Executive Director of Culture and Sport Glasgow, will be chief executive of Culture and Sport Glasgow.
Lord Provost Liz Cameron said: "I am delighted to be made chair of Culture and Sport Glasgow. The company will take the provision of culture and sport in Glasgow to an even higher level, while attracting investment in ways which the Council cannot. The calibre of the board members, bringing expertise in so many areas but especially in the cultural and sporting arenas, presents a great opportunity for Glasgow. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the board, and I am certain that Culture and Sport Glasgow will achieve a great deal for the city."
A special advisor to the board has been appointed, Vartan Gregorian. Vartan Gregorian is one of the foremost figures in American education and intellectual life and is the president of the Carnegie Corporation, based in New York.
A major exhibition of work by the Glasgow Boys was announced, which will go on display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in 2008. Lord Macfarlane, who has one of the best collections of works of the Glasgow boys in existence, will loan pieces from this to form part of the exhibition.
The external directors of the trading company of Culture and Sport Glasgow were appointed, joining Lord Provost Liz Cameron, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Steven Purcell and chief executive Bridget McConnell. The external directors are Dr Kenneth Chrystie, Ed Crozier, Seumas MacInnes and Flora Martin.
The board will meet with the trustees of the British Museum in September, when the Trustees will have a debate at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum discussing the role of the British Museum in Scotland.
The board of Culture and Sport Glasgow is as follows:
- The Rt Hon The Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden
- Sir Angus Grossart
- The Rt Hon George Reid MSP
- Lord Stevenson of Coddenham
- The Lord Provost, Liz Cameron
- The Leader of the CouncilCouncillor Steven Purcell
- Councillor John Lynch
- Councillor Archie Graham
- Councillor Ruth Simpson
- A Member of the Opposition
- Bridget McConnell