SCOTLAND'S national orchestra is to begin the search for a new chief executive as its present leader, Dr Krishna Thiagarajan has been appointed Chief Executive of the Seattle Symphony in the US.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra said that Mr Thiagarajan will leave the RSNO in September this year.

Dr Thiagarajan, who joined the RSNO in 2015, oversaw two major new appointments to the RSNO last year.

In October 2018 Thomas Søndergård will take over as Music Director, having been the orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor since 2012, and Elim Chan also begins her tenure as Principal Guest Conductor in the autumn.

The Orchestra’s CD, Astar, which was distributed by Scotland’s Registry Office to every child born in Scotland, approximately 85,000, was developed into an app last year in collaboration with the University of Abertay and distributed as part of the Scottish Government’s Baby Boxes scheme.

The RSNO has begun an international search for a successor to Dr Krishna Thiagarajan and will announce interim arrangements shortly.

www.rsno.org.uk.

GLASGOW Women's Library has announced the launch of a new flag that will be flown at locations across Scotland as part of their bid to be named Museum of the Year.

The launch of the flag’s journey took place at Glasgow City Chambers on 18June when Glasgow Lord Provost Eva Bolander and Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of the Council, showed their support by flying the flag inside the Glasgow City Chambers.

The next stop on the flag’s tour is Orkney Library.

The newly designed flag has been created by GWL’s Designer in Residence Jyni Ong.

The flag features the slogan ‘Glasgow Women’s Library: It’s for me’ emblazoned within a yellow banner on a pink background.

Adele Patrick, Lifelong Learning and Creative Development Manager, said: "The flying of this flag symbolises everything Glasgow Women’s Library wants to say about its unique offer to local, national and international visitors."

Glasgow Women’s Library appears on the shortlist alongside Brooklands Museum, Ferens Art Gallery, The Postal Museum, and Tate St Ives.

The winner of Art Fund Museum of the Year 2018 is announced on 5 July.

www.womenslibrary.org.uk