The Herald can reveal that Sir John will be the external assessor for the final stage of the process to find a chief executive for Creative Scotland, the body that will succeed the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen and inherit their £60 million joint annual budget.
One of the most respected people in the UK arts scene, Sir John was managing director of the BBC World Service from 1986 to 1993, having had a distinguished career as a broadcaster, and subsequently spent more than 10 years managing London’s Barbican arts centre. He has also been chair of the Wigmore Hall in London and is chair of the influential Clore Leadership Programme for cultural activities.
Ewan Brown, chairman of the company set up to establish Creative Scotland, said it was vital that the interviews for the shortlisted candidates were subject to the view of an experienced outsider. “[Sir John] has agreed to be a part of the process. It is terrific,” Mr Brown said at a conference in Dumfries yesterday discussing the formation of Creative Scotland.
“He will give us a perspective from outside Scotland, a national and international perspective, which is what we want Creative Scotland to have. He will be there for our guidance but we will not discourage him from asking questions.”
Fiona Hyslop, the Culture Minister, also in Dumfries, welcomed Sir John’s involvement. “Sir John Tusa is a major figure and, with all the experience and knowledge he has, is perfect to help us find someone that can lead a national and internationally focused body for the 21st century,” she said.
The chief executive of Creative Scotland will be in charge of funding for more than 100 arts organisations, plus new roles in the creative industries.
A long list has been drawn up, and will be whittled down by the end of the month, with the successful candidate due to be announced in February.
The first reading of the bill to establish Creative Scotland passed in the Scottish Parliament last week.
If the further two stages are successful, the body will finally come into being in June.
