National Heritage Memorial Fund Trustee for Scotland
The Prime Minister has appointed Seona Reid CBE as Trustee for Scotland, and a Deputy Chair, of The National Heritage Memorial Fund for three years, commencing 1 April 2011.
Biographical details
Seona Reid is the Director of the Glasgow School of Art, a position she has held since 1999. She had previously been Director of the Scottish Arts Council. In her earlier career she was Assistant Director (Strategy and Regional Development) of Greater London Arts; Director of Shape; Head of Public Relations at Ballet Rambert; Press and Publicity Officer at Northern Dance Theatre; Business Manager, Lincoln Theatre Royal and a freelance arts consultant working with the Arts Council of Great Britain and the London Contemporary Dance Trust.
Ms Reid is a member of the Universities UK Creative Industries Project Steering Group, a member of the Universities Scotland Executive Committee and a Board member of Cove Park, an artist residency centre in Scotland. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
She has four honorary degrees from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen (1995), from the University of Glasgow (1999), from Glasgow Caledonian University (2001) and from Strathclyde University (2009), all for services to the arts in Scotland. She became an honorary professor of the University of Glasgow in 1995 and was awarded a CBE in the 2008 New Year Honours for services to the Creative Industries. She holds no other public appointments.
Notes to Editors
The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) is the fund of last resort for the nation’s heritage, coming to the rescue by funding emergency acquisitions. In 1994, the NHMF Trustees were also given the major task of distributing the heritage share of Lottery money for good causes, which it now operates through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). This Fund was set up by Parliament in 1994 to give grants to a wide range of projects involving the local, regional and national heritage of the United Kingdom. HLF enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about the UK’s diverse heritage. HLF funds the entire spread of heritage, including buildings, museums, natural heritage and the heritage of cultural traditions and language. The Trustee for Scotland and Deputy Chair devotes approximately five days per month to the role, for which remuneration of £20,749 is offered.
The appointment process has followed the OCPA Code of Practice. Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for political activity in the United Kingdom in the past five years (if any declared) to be made public. Ms Reid has declared no political activity.