Following the resignation of Lucy Finnegan, Professor Ian Montgomery has been appointed as a member of the Arts Council. Professor Montgomery was selected by Minister Poots from a list of suitable candidates identified during the recent open competition.
Welcoming Professor Montgomery to the Arts Council, Edwin Poots said: “I am very pleased to make this appointment and I am looking forward to working with Professor Montgomery and the other members of Council in the changing and challenging times ahead. I recognise the valuable contribution the arts make to the social, economic and cultural life of Northern Ireland and the vital role the Arts Council plays in supporting this.”
Minister Poots also expressed his sincere thanks to outgoing member of the Arts Council, Lucy Finnegan, for her contribution and commitment to the work of the Council during her term of appointment.
Notes to Editors:
The Arts Council is the statutory body through which public funding for the arts in Northern Ireland is disbursed. The Council was established as a statutory body by the Arts Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 on 1 September 1995. It is funded via grant-in-aid by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and it is managed by a Board currently consisting of 15 members. Members are appointed by the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure and are unpaid, receiving expenses only.
Professor Montgomery originally applied for a position on the Arts Council in 2007 and although unsuccessful in the original competition his name was retained on a list of suitable candidates which remains live for six months. The Minister selected Professor Montgomery from this list to fill the vacant position.
The appointments process was carried out in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice. A selection panel, which included an independent assessor, as required under the Commissioner’s Code, considered the suitability of all candidates. The final decision on appointments rests with the Minister.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if declared) to be published.
Professor Montgomery’s appointment will take effect from 9 April 2008 until 30 November 2011.
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Biographical Details
Professor Ian Montgomery
Professor Montgomery has been Head of the School of Art and Design at the University of Ulster since 2005. Prior to this appointment he was Director of the Research Institute where he was responsible for the development of the Art and Design Research Unit of Assessment. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Architecture and Manufacture, a member of the International Society of Typographic Designers and a member of the Design Research Society. Professor Montgomery has declared no significant political activity.
