Older people's arts festival director appointed

Age Scotland, the Baring Foundation and Creative Scotland have announced the appointment of Anne Gallacher as Festival Director for the new Scottish national festival to celebrate arts, creativity and ageing.

Learning from existing festival models, including Bealtaine in Ireland and Gwanwyn in Wales, and taking place across the country in October 2012, the festival will showcase the arts, creativity and ageing in an exciting, large scale celebration of older artists, performers and participants, including a focus on people in residential care homes and also creating opportunities for all age groups to get involved.

Anne was appointed after a recruitment process spanning the United Kingdom and reaching as far afield as New Zealand.  Born in Glasgow and a graduate of the University of Aberdeen, she has had an extensive career in the cultural sector, including senior posts at Birmingham Royal Ballet and Watford Palace Theatre. She has been working as an independent arts consultant for the past two years and is the Chair of DanceDigital, the dance development agency for Essex and Hertfordshire. 

Age Scotland Chief Executive David Manion said: "Our vision is to create an inspiring and ambitious annual festival of arts for, by, with and about older people, that in the longer term will have a major impact on Scotland's older population and their involvement in and appreciation of the arts. We are confident that with Anne's leadership, we will achieve this."

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