Becoming a Shetland Arts Trustee: Shape the Future of the Arts in Shetland

What motivated you to become a Trustee for Shetland Arts?

When we moved back to Shetland in 2018 from Aberdeen I was delighted that Lerwick had a cinema. The more I went into the cinema, the more I realised how many other events and workshops were available – all over Shetland!! It wasn’t in my mind to become a trustee as such but I was so taken with the breadth of activity that came from a small organisation that I got more and more intrigued on how it functioned.

What do you feel you’ve gained from your experience as a Trustee?

It’s always good to be reminded of the role of a trustee. Operational decisions are made by the management team – and rightly so. Governance of the organisation and its strategic direction sit with the Board. Being a Trustee of an organisation that is well run, diverse and facing new challenges all the time with regards to funding, staffing,etc is fascinating to see how, each year, we deal with the challenges ahead.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering becoming a Trustee?

Do it! In order to make a contribution though you need to give it the time it deserves. The papers brought to the Board take the staff time to pull together and therefore its only right we take the time to read and consider our responses.

What’s your favourite Shetland Arts activity we are involved in?

Music nights, especially when they are located outside of Lerwick; the Shetland Youth Theatre performances; some of the exhibitions have been outstanding – Fancy boy in particular; I could go on…

What motivated you to become a Trustee for Shetland Arts?

Coming from Shetland, I have a lifelong interest in arts and culture within the islands and care deeply about its future. Being a musician, I bring my experience as a creative person to the Board, alongside my understanding of how national organisations and formal institutions work gained through my work as a university Professor.

What do you feel you’ve gained from your experience as a Trustee?

Meeting regularly with my fellow Trustees, Shetland Arts staff and various creative people in Shetland over the past couple years through my Trustee role has been inspiring and my eyes have been opened to the many facets of the creative arts.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering becoming a Trustee?

Go for it! In a challenging time for the Arts nationally if you care about Shetland's creative future come and be part of important conversations that aim to help and support the Arts in Shetland in the coming years.

What’s your favourite Shetland Arts activity we are involved in?

That is a hard question, I have loved so many amazing concerts, plays, commissions, exhibitions, installations and youth events over the years...they all make me very proud to be from this place and excited about what's next.

What motivated you to become a Trustee for Shetland Arts?

On my return to Shetland after several years living away, I was excited by the facilities available to Shetlanders (and visitors) in the form of Mareel and Bonhoga, plus all the associated activities. I was looking for a way I could contribute to the arts and cultural sector within Shetland and becoming a trustee of Shetland Arts provided me with that opportunity.

What do you feel you’ve gained from your experience as a Trustee?

I have gained a greater knowledge and appreciation of the sheer number and breadth of activities that Shetland Arts undertakes. Coupled with a true admiration for all those at Shetland Arts that work hard to deliver a constant menu of cinema, creative performance, wellbeing sessions, artist support, youth arts, education, etcetera, etcetera …

Plus, my knowledge of accountancy jargon has improved as has my ability to read management accounts!

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering becoming a Trustee?

Be prepared, it is not all fun, at times there are difficult decisions to be made.

What’s your favourite Shetland Arts activity we are involved in?

Shetland Arts have an extraordinary team of educators that teach and mentor music, film and drama students. As a member of the Student Support Team at UHI, I am very lucky to visit our music and film students on a regular basis and witness first-hand how dedicated and expert teaching enables students to grow in knowledge, experience and confidence. The Student Showcases are a highlight of my year.

What motivated you to become a Trustee for Shetland Arts?

Having been a frequent visitor to Shetland for decades, I was incredibly impressed by the quality of facilities that Shetland Arts provides. As a visual artist with an active interest in theatre, dance and performance, I was keen when I moved Shetland to do something to support the development of the arts in Shetland. Since I have interests in so many art forms, Shetland Arts seemed to be the logical place to volunteer my time.

What do you feel you’ve gained from your experience as a Trustee?

The role of a trustee is unpaid and does require commitment to read meeting papers and attend board meetings. As a quiet overseer, the trustee role is often unseen from the outside and there are no awards or plaudits for charity trustees. For me, I am happy to exchange a little of my time just for the personal satisfaction of being able to make a small but meaningful contribution to the development of the arts in Shetland.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering becoming a Trustee?

(I have three…)

1. There can sometimes be a lot of reading to prepare for meetings but the information is all relevant and it really helps you to understand the challenges of operating of a complex multi-disciplinary arts organisation.

2. As a creative practitioner, business finance is not my forte. However, there is no need to fear the numbers as the management team, the independent auditors and other trustees with finance backgrounds are always excellent at explaining the details in an understandable way.

3. There are no stupid questions in board meetings. Everyone takes the time answer all the questions so that everything is understandable and the management team is also happy to adjust how things are presented to make it easier for trustees to understand the 'what and why' of each decision.

What’s your favourite Shetland Arts activity we are involved in?

Having been involved in arts organisations in Edinburgh and East Lothian, the uniqueness of Shetland Arts is the sheer breadth of its activities across so many disciplines. This makes it very difficult to choose any favourites as I have so many. However, I love the educational aspects of Shetland Arts (formal and informal), I love the live performances, I love the exhibitions, but most of all, I am constantly amazed at the innovative projects that the organisation delivers and it is a privilege to get a peek behind the scenes and meet with the small group of dedicated staff who are responsible for so many great things.

What motivated you to become a Trustee for Shetland Arts?

To help, in some small measure, to sustain and develop the vibrant arts sector that is nurtured, promoted and showcased by the organisation.

What do you feel you’ve gained from your experience as a Trustee?

A better understanding of the practicalities of how trustees and executive management work together. Also a peek behind the curtain of Scottish government arts funding practices and that of local grant awarding bodies. I have also gained a huge amount of personal confidence and a sense of fulfilment as I look to completing the last few months that bring to an end my second, and therefore, final term as a trustee.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering becoming a Trustee?

Take your time to bed in and speak to everyone you can in the organisation but above all be yourself! Diversity of opinion is to be celebrated so be comfortable in raising your thoughts, questions and options from day one.

What’s your favourite Shetland Arts activity we are involved in?

One off projects and programmes are always the stand outs for me. These have included 'Remembering Together', 'Culture Collective' and the 'Arts Trail'.

What motivated you to become a Trustee for Shetland Arts?

One of the many draws of Shetland is its facilities and forward thinking attitude. We have attended many events run by Shetland Arts and see the contribution it makes to the community. I wanted to be able to support that and enable it to continue successfully into the future.

What do you feel you’ve gained from your experience as a Trustee?

I have a greater insight into the expanse of Shetland Arts activities, have met some wonderful people and developed my own skillset beyond those I brought with me from my working life.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering becoming a Trustee?

Don’t be afraid! This is the first time I have been a trustee and being surrounded by a group of highly competent people can be daunting. I have learnt that all voices and opinions matter and are listened to.

What’s your favourite Shetland Arts activity we are involved in?

Personally I use the cinema on a regular basis. I attended the final Screenplay festival which not only enabled me to meet an idol of mine but also opened my eyes to films I wouldn’t usually think to watch.

What motivated you to become a Trustee for Shetland Arts?

I was looking for some voluntary role in the Community, and when a friend suggested becoming a trustee, the outline of what was expected caught my interest. I am not a creator of art myself, but thoroughly enjoy art in many different forms and meeting the talented people who create work for us all to enjoy.

What do you feel you’ve gained from your experience as a Trustee?

Learning about the variety of talent there is in Shetland. I have gained great joy in the fact that our young people still have access to a wide range of artistic experiences and being able to meet the SADA team and hear about their work - they are passionate, committed and very ready to share information with you.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering becoming a Trustee?

Develop a slighter thicker skin, or ignore heated comments on Social Media!

What’s your favourite Shetland Arts activity we are involved in?

This is a really tough one as I am so proud of the variety that is delivered to so many different parts of the community here, as well as to visitors.

So I think for me I would like to highlight two moments that occurred once we could reopen properly after lockdown. The first was a Comics’ Open Night hosted by Marjolein Robertson - the sheer joy of being with other people and enjoying a laugh with talented young comedians was unforgettable. The second was seeing Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham - I had last seen them perform live in a town near my previous home in Devon. To hear them here in my first live concert since Covid Lockdown was again a moment of great joy.