Janet Archer resigns as chief executive of Creative Scotland

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Janet Archer resigns as chief executive of Creative Scotland | Janet Archer has stepped down as chief executive of Creative Scotland after five years in the role, it was confirmed yesterday. The organisation has stated that Archer, who left at the end of June, is receiving payment in lieu of her notice period, and that deputy chief executive Iain Munro will take on the role of acting chief executive. Archer’s resignation follows a long-running dispute regarding funding decisions made by the national arts body. A report released last month by a Scottish government committee found that the quango’s funding system had fallen ‘well short’ of expected standards.

Robert Leckie is appointed director of Spike Island | Bristol’s contemporary art centre Spike Island has announced the appointment of Robert Leckie as director. Leckie, who will assume the role this autumn, has been the curator and head of programmes at Gasworks in London since 2011. He takes up the position from Helen Legg, who was named as the new director of Tate Liverpool earlier this year.

Oxford’s Story Museum receives £1m funding boost | The Story Museum in Oxford has been awarded a £1m grant by the National Lottery fund, reports the Oxford Mail. The award is planned to go towards a £6m redevelopment that will significantly expand the premises of the museum. The Story Museum opened in 2014, and explores the subjects of children’s authors and storytelling.

Inaugural European ArtEast Foundation grants announced | The European ArtEast Foundation has announced the first recipients of a new research grant, which aims to improve engagement with curators and academics in art from Eastern Europe. The grant program was launched in collaboration with the Delfina Foundation this spring; the inaugural recipients of the awards, which range from $4,000–$8,000, are Dominik Kurylek, Caterina Preda, and Ianina Prudenko.