Kathryn Welch has been appointed Interim Director of Voluntary Arts Scotland, taking up the role for nine months from Monday 24 July 2017. Kathryn will join Voluntary Arts on secondment from her role as Development Manager at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling.

She will lead the experienced team based in the Creative Exchange in Leith for the next nine months while Jemma Neville undertakes a sabbatical. Kathryn is currently a Clore Social Leadership Fellow and will also continue to lead the Stirling SOUP community events.

This is a very exciting time for Kathryn to be joining Voluntary Arts with active participation in creativity high on the agenda for people across Scotland and elsewhere. During her time in the role, Kathryn will oversee some fascinating new initiatives such as the My Time project with the Scottish Poetry Library and a new programme on digital literacy for people aged 50+ delivered through SCVO’s Digital Participation Charter Fund. Collaborations will also extend across the UK and further afield with the development of the new Get Creative Festival for 2018 and European partnership projects.

Julie Ellen, Artistic Director of Macrobert Arts Centre, said:

Kathryn is an inspirational person whose enthusiasm for supporting charitable activity and volunteering is boundless. Her energy and her abilities are exceptional and I believe she will bring a great deal to Voluntary Arts Scotland and to those who share her passion. It’s also a terrific opportunity for Kathryn to add to her skills and we at Macrobert Arts Centre look forward to gaining from sharing the experience of her secondment with Voluntary Arts Scotland. Great news for us all.

Robin Simpson, Chief Executive of Voluntary Arts, said:

Jemma Neville's sabbatical provides a rare opportunity for us to bring some fresh input and ideas and to the development of our work in Scotland: I believe Kathryn Welch will be an exciting addition to the Voluntary Arts Scotland team and I look forward to working with her over the next nine months.