20 October 2004
New Media Scotland Artistic Director Resigns
After five years of leading New Media Scotland, Artistic Director Chris Byrne has announced his resignation from the organisation effective immediately on 29 September 2004. The Board of New Media Scotland wish Chris well for the future and we will shortly be announcing plans for how the organisation will be engaging with the new media sector over the coming months.
The organisation over the last year has been instituting a number of changes in response to a review of its status as a Core Funded Organisation of the Scottish Arts Council. As part of this process the Board of New Media Scotland adopted a new staffing structure in 2004. The Board decided to create two new leadership posts within the organisation, an Artistic Director and an Administrative Director. In June 2004 Chris took up the post of Artistic Director, responsible for developing and delivering a robust artistic programme for the organisation. At this time, Cezanne Charles took up the post of Administrative Director, charged with developing and managing the strategic policy and development of the organisation as well as the day to day running of New Media Scotland.
From the first projects on HOST to the stimulating debates on Ambit, Chris has worked energetically to bring a voice and a focus to the digital arts community in Scotland. Working both locally and internationally, he has both brought internationally renowned theorists and practitioners to Scotland, and played a vital role in promoting Scottish media artists in Europe and beyond. Partnerships, vital to small arts organisations, have been at the core of the development of New Media Scotland; the Board intend to make sure that this emphasis continues and we will be looking to the rest of the sector in Scotland to help achieve this.
Cezanne Charles comes to New Media Scotland with a strong background in arts management specialising in art and technology funding, policy and development. Originally from the US, she moved to Britain in 2003 to co-curate and manage the exhibition Intersculpt:uk 03 for Manchester based fast-uk. She has served as a consultant to arts organisations and artists in the areas of technology planning, professional and organisational development, and strategic planning in both the US and Britain. From 2000 - 2003 she worked at Culture Works, Greater Dayton’s Arts Council and United Arts fund where she developed and managed funds to small and mid-sized arts organisations and individual artists. She also worked to develop special initiatives in the areas of art and technology, cultural facilities, and organisational development for the agency. Her experience and expertise should serve the organisation well as it continues to move forward.
Since 1998 New Media Scotland has worked to develop and enable arts activity shaped by new technologies. We support research and development in new media, create opportunities for artists and provide information to the media art community in Scotland. New Media Scotland produces, exhibits and tours digital artworks across Scotland, the UK and internationally. New Media Scotland will continue to build upon past successes and looks forward to continuing to serve and develop the new media sector in Scotland.
Dave Cumings, Chair
For enquiries please direct all comments to Cezanne J. Charles, Administrative Director [EMAIL PROTECTED] +44 (0)131-477-3774
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