GLASGOW'S Mayfest is to seek a new director after a decision by Mr
Bill Burdett-Coutts not to accept a new contract. This would have
committed him to the post full-time from October.
Mr Burdett-Coutts, who was appointed Mayfest festival director in
December 1987, is a freelance arts director. He has been arts editor of
Granada Television since the end of last year, while he also combines
his Mayfest and television duties with his role as director of Assembly
-- the arts promoting body that takes over Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms
every Festival Fringe.
He said yesterday: ''Mayfest is a magnificent festival representing so
many of the talents of people working in the arts in Glasgow, be they
community based or professional. My three years with the festival have
been an extraordinary challenge, which I have enjoyed enormously.
''It has been one of the most pleasurable periods of my life, made so
by the working environment. The Mayfest office has been a happy one and
I thank all the staff for their support.
''Glasgow has been, and I'm sure will continue to be, one of the most
vital arts communities in Britain. I pass on my thanks to all those
people and companies that have made Mayfest special.''
There had been uncertainty over Mr Burdett-Coutts' continuing role as
director. He said at the close of this year's Mayfest that the festival
must either be given increased funding or its programme would have to be
reduced.
Councillor Jean McFadden, chair of the Mayfest board, said yesterday:
''Bill has done a tremendous job and we are very sorry to lose him. The
board understood his wish to exercise his considerable talents in a
number of directions, but we felt that Mayfest has grown to the extent
that it needs a full-time director.''
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