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James Boyle appointed as next chairman of the Scottish Arts Council
08/02/2001
Mr James Boyle has been appointed the next Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council, Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture Sam Galbraith announced today.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr Galbraith said:
"I am delighted that James Boyle has accepted my invitation to take up this important post. At a time of unprecedented interest in the arts in Scotland, James Boyle will bring to the Arts Council an exceptional portfolio of skills drawn from his distinguished carreer in journalism and broadcasting.
"He clearly shares my passion for the arts and for the contribution they can make to making Scotland a dynamic and exciting place in which to live and work. I look forward to working with him immensely.
"In welcoming James Boyle to this important post, I also want to pay tribute to the enormous contribution which the outgoing Chairman, Magnus Linklater, has made to the arts in Scotland during the last five years."
BACKGROUND
1. James Boyle was selected following an open competition conducted under the procedures of the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments. He will receive an honorarium of £25,000.
2. James Boyle is a broadcaster, journalist and author, born in Glasgow in 1946. A graduate of Strathclyde University (First Class Honours in English and American Literature). Mr Boyle is currently a freelance journalist and is a director of media production company Wark Clements. He is married with three sons and lives in Edinburgh
3. James Boyle held a series of high-profile posts at the BBC, culminating in four years as Controller of Radio Four from 1996-2000. He was previously BBC Chief Advisor, Editorial Policy; Head of Radio Scotland, from 1992-96; and Secretary and Head of Press, BBC Scotland, from 1989.
4. The term of office of the current Chairman, Magnus Linklater, ends on 31 March 2001. Pending the outcome in May of the NDPB Review announced by the Minister of Finance on 18 January 2001, James Boyle's appoinment will be as Chairman Designate.
News Release: SE0293/2001
8 Feb 2001