Professor Reid has been appointed by the Prime Minister as Trustee with responsibility for Scotland on NHMF and HLF’s UK-wide Board, a role that brings with it responsibility for the Fund’s work across the whole for the UK as well as specific responsibility for leading the HLF Committee for Scotland.

As Director of Glasgow School of Art for the past 12 years, Professor Reid will bring her considerable experience of the country’s arts and heritage sector to a committee which is responsible for awarding grants of up to £1million to heritage projects across Scotland. Since its formation, HLF has invested over £500million in over 3,200 Scottish projects including the new Burns Museum and Riverside Museum of Transport. 

Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of HLF, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Professor Reid as a Trustee and Scottish Chair. She brings considerable experience and knowledge to a Committee which is passionate about helping conserve and share Scotland’s rich heritage for the benefit of modern community life.”

Professor Seona Reid, said: “HLF has contributed massively to the UK’s heritage over the past 15 years. I look forward to working with the other Trustees and the Scotland Committee to ensure that we not only preserve the heritage that people value but in doing so, make a tangible difference to modern community life.”

Professor Reid was appointed Director of Glasgow School of Art in 1999. She was previously Director of the Scottish Arts Council for 9 years, and before that Assistant Director (Strategy and Regional Development) of Greater London Arts, Director of Shape, Head of Press and Publicity, Ballet Rambert and Northern Dance Theatre, Business Manager, Lincoln Theatre Royal and a freelance arts consultant working with the Arts Council of Great Britain and the London Contemporary Dance Trust.

She is currently on the Board of Cove Park Artists Retreat and a member of the Executive Committee Universities Scotland. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Art and was awarded a CBE in the 2008 New Year Honours for services to the creative industries.

Professor Reid, who succeeds Dr Brian Lang, joins existing Committee Members Sheena Wurthmann, expert in biodiversity; Katrina Thomson, National Co-ordinator of the UK Joint Forum for Archives, Libraries and Museums; Ross Noble, former curator of the Highland Folk Museum; Willie Mcleod , past Director of Visitor Services & Quality at VisitScotland; Eleanor McAllister OBE Managing Director of urban regeneration company, Clydebank Re-built; and Ian Johnson expert in strategic planning and heritage management.

Notes to editors

The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) is the fund of last resort for the nation’s heritage, coming to the rescue by funding emergency acquisitions. In 1994, the NHMF Trustees were also given the major task of distributing the heritage share of Lottery money for good causes, which it now operates through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). This Fund was set up by Parliament in 1994 to give grants to a wide range of projects involving the local, regional and national heritage of the United Kingdom. HLF enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about the UK’s diverse heritage. HLF funds the entire spread of heritage, including buildings, museums, natural heritage and the heritage of cultural traditions and language.

HLF has supported more than 30,000 projects, allocating over £4.5billion across the UK and has supported more than 3,200 projects allocating £500million across Scotland.

NHMF has safeguarded a diverse range of over 1,200 iconic objects and places to the tune of over £300million.

Further information

Shiona Mackay, HLF Scotland on 01786 870 638 / 07779 142 890 or Jon Williams, HLF Head of Corporate Communications, Nations and Regions on 020 7591 6035.

Out of hours mobile on 07973 613 820.