Three posts to go at Shetland Arts

Shetland Arts is to pay off three senior staff as part of an ongoing restructuring exercise.

Shetland Arts is to pay off two senior staff as part of an on-going restructuring exercise

The development officers for literature and visual arts, Donald Anderson and Claire Aldington, are both to leave the organisation later in the year. A third post, that of drama development officer, presently undertaken by John Haswell is still being reviewed.

The Mareel based pair have fallen victim to an organizational reshuffle that was started earlier this year as Shetland Arts attempted to deliver its services in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

Last month, Shetland Charitable Trust announced it would better than half its budget for the Shetland Arts Fund, which will in future only be available to under-18s.

General manager Graeme Howell said that he would not comment on any individuals employed by the organization and that it was posts that were being deleted rather than individuals.

Mr Howell said that Shetland Arts would still be delivering the three-year programme of work it had signed up to with funders including Creative Scotland.

He Added: “What we are trying to do is create a more efficient organization that’s actually fit for purpose and consequently we are giving senior management more flexible roles and responsibilities.

Mr Howell added that Shetland Arts had been making “vast use” of zero hours contracts and a number of individuals have been moved into “solider contracts” which would have the effect of “stablilising the organization so it is fit and healthy to move forward”.

He said that he did not know if the “change management” process would ever be completed but a review point was planned around the mid-autumn.

“Change is something that organisations like ours need to become much more adept at. I think we will be constantly reviewing what we do and adapting and responding to the public demand as needs must.”

Marketing manager Lauren Doughton confirmed that the two posts were to go but Shetland Arts would continue to deliver the programme it had signed up to, including all the events scheduled for this year.

She could not comment on next year’s programming but said that there was no doubt Shetland Arts would take a creative and flexible approach to delivering the programme it promised to deliver.

In April Bryan Peterson, a former arts development officer in music, was appointed head of creative opportunities, while Jonathan Ritch a former senior technician with the organisation, was made head of production.

The organisation is still in the process of recruiting an education manager, an exhibitions manager and a creative projects manager, with all posts open for existing staff to apply for.