New trustees for Shetland Arts

Shetland Arts has announced a trio of new trustees have joined its board.

Board chairman Jim Johnston said Shetland Arts had been “inundated” with interest from many different individuals. The successful three are Steven Cheverton, Jill Franklin and Michael Palmer.

Mr Johnston said the board had been looking for individuals “who could help Shetland Arts continue to deliver on its business plan”.

“In parallel to continuing to grow and strengthen Mareel’s success, the next stage of development for the organisation includes a continued focus on its operations right across the islands, and continued growth of its income base, particularly funding from outside Shetland,” he said.

Mr Cheverton has lived for over ten years on the west side of Shetland with his partner Angela and their four children. His background is in printing and publishing, with a particular focus on graphics and digital page make-up.

He said he was delighted to be given the opportunity: “Culture, both indigenous and imported, is vital for the health and well-being of any community. Shetland’s rich artistic heritage reflects the importance that has been placed upon this aspect of our communal lives.”

Ms Franklin has been an entrepreneur for nearly a decade, founding and developing Franklin Rae into one of the UK’s leading PR agencies within the entertainment industry. She has experience of working with STV and the BBC and currently splits her time between Bixter, where she has lived since 2008, and London.

Mr Palmer is a community nurse working in Whalsay. Shetland Arts said he recognised the importance of art in bringing people together and allowing them to express themselves. He also “recognises the importance of art in the healing process, either in participation or simply as a spectator”.

Mr Johnston added that he was delighted to attract such a “high calibre” of trustees to the board: “The three new trustees not only bring an enthusiasm for the arts, they each have individual skills, knowledge and contacts that we require to help take us to the next level.”