A former dancer and choreographer has been appointed the new head of Creative Scotland.
Janet Archer, currently director of Dance for Arts Council England, will take up the post of chief executive of Scotland’s arts body on July 1.
She replaces Andrew Dixon, who stepped down in January amid criticism of the organisation by many leading artists and writers.
Ms Archer was unanimously selected after the Creative Scotland board considered almost 100 applications.
She has worked on projects in Scotland and is chair of artist-led organisation The Work Room, based at Tramway in Glasgow.
Before joining Arts Council England she was chief executive of Dance City, a Newcastle-based dance agency.
Ms Archer said she is “thrilled and excited” about her new role.
“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.”
National poet Liz Lochhead and crime author Ian Rankin were among more than 100 writers and artists who signed an open letter to Creative Scotland chairman Sir Sandy Crombie in October, calling for the body to acknowledge management problems and citing low trust “between those who make art and those who fund it”.
Sir Sandy said today: “We are all looking forward to working with Janet and the senior management team in building on the feedback and relationships with arts practitioners throughout Scotland.
“She comes at a time of huge opportunities to highlight Scotland’s artistic excellence and achievements in the run up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and beyond.
“The board was impressed with her policymaking and partnership skills and knowledge across the whole field of the wider arts, screen and creative industries.”