Cathy Agnew, Chair
Cathy has been involved in the arts for all her working life, initially as a film/television researcher and subsequently as a documentary film producer. Since moving to Scotland 35 years ago she has been the instigator and driver of various initiatives including the South West Scotland Screen Commission, The CatStrand Arts and Community Centre, the Peter Pan Moat Brae project, Dumfries and Galloway Arts Partnership and now DGUnlimited.
A former Chairman of both Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association and Dumfries and Galloway LEADER Local Action Group, she was also a member of the Scottish Arts Council Lottery Advisory Panel for Children and Young People which helped give her good insight into various funding processes and procedures.
Married to a hill-farmer in the Glenkens, with three grown-up children, she is passionate about promoting Dumfries and Galloway through the arts. What better way than to lead DGUnlimited – our unique umbrella network membership organisation, set up specifically to champion and support the region’s creative sector.
A former Chairman of both Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association and Dumfries and Galloway LEADER Local Action Group, she was also a member of the Scottish Arts Council Lottery Advisory Panel for Children and Young People which helped give her good insight into various funding processes and procedures.
Married to a hill-farmer in the Glenkens, with three grown-up children, she is passionate about promoting Dumfries and Galloway through the arts. What better way than to lead DGUnlimited – our unique umbrella network membership organisation, set up specifically to champion and support the region’s creative sector.
Anne Barclay MBE,
Regional Arts Hub Representative
Anne was born in Wigtown, educated at Wigtown Primary School, Douglas Ewart High School and completed a BA in Entertainment and Events Management at Glasgow Caledonian University. She returned to the area following her degree and has worked for Wigtown Festival Company since 2007 where she is now the Operational Director.
A trustee for Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, The Swallow Theatre Association and co-opted Regional Arts Hub member on the board of DG Unlimited, Anne enjoys the wealth of opportunities the region has to offer throughout the year. Beyond her working life she is also a Guide Leader, Chairman of Dumfries & Galloway’s CRUK Relay For Life committee, a member of Newton Stewart Rotary Club, and a proud auntie.
Anne’s favourite time of year is the annual Wigtown Book Festival – the flagship event for Wigtown Festival Company – when the marquees go up, the visitors beginning to arrive and the excitement building among the Festival’s army of volunteers and the local community. She said, “there’s no doubt it’s a lot of hard work but there’s an immense sense of satisfaction seeing it all come together, and I’ve learned (from the inspirational Frank Gardner) don’t sweat the small stuff.”
A trustee for Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, The Swallow Theatre Association and co-opted Regional Arts Hub member on the board of DG Unlimited, Anne enjoys the wealth of opportunities the region has to offer throughout the year. Beyond her working life she is also a Guide Leader, Chairman of Dumfries & Galloway’s CRUK Relay For Life committee, a member of Newton Stewart Rotary Club, and a proud auntie.
Anne’s favourite time of year is the annual Wigtown Book Festival – the flagship event for Wigtown Festival Company – when the marquees go up, the visitors beginning to arrive and the excitement building among the Festival’s army of volunteers and the local community. She said, “there’s no doubt it’s a lot of hard work but there’s an immense sense of satisfaction seeing it all come together, and I’ve learned (from the inspirational Frank Gardner) don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Stephen Lacey
Stephen Lacey is an Emeritus Professor of the University of South Wales. He recently took early retirement after 38 years as a university academic teaching drama, film and television in universities across the UK, including Scotland. Much of that time was spent teaching and researching British television drama and contemporary theatre, including community and participatory theatre, often working with students outside the university classroom. He has also participated in research projects that engaged with the wider community and public bodies, including the BBC Trust Cymru/Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.
In an earlier life, he was active in community theatre in Scotland, working with the Craigmillar Festival Society and Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh. More recently, he has been a trustee on the Board of the Rural Media Company, Hereford. He is currently (until June 2018) Chair of the Standing Conference of University Drama Departments, the professional body that represents departments of drama and performance in UK universities. He moved back to Dumfries and Galloway in 2013 and lives in Lockerbie.
In an earlier life, he was active in community theatre in Scotland, working with the Craigmillar Festival Society and Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh. More recently, he has been a trustee on the Board of the Rural Media Company, Hereford. He is currently (until June 2018) Chair of the Standing Conference of University Drama Departments, the professional body that represents departments of drama and performance in UK universities. He moved back to Dumfries and Galloway in 2013 and lives in Lockerbie.
Davie McMillan
Davie worked in the Building Trade before joining Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, serving in Stranraer, Dumfries and the Scottish Crime Squad in Glasgow.
After retirement he joined the Local Health Council, this became Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service which Davie has chaired for a number of years. He also became a member of Dumfries and Galloway Children’s Panel, becoming Chair and the Area Convener on the inception of Children’s Hearings Scotland. Davie also chairs the Training Committee for CHS and West Lothian College and is on the Board of Children 1st covering south west of Scotland.
Davie joined Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership some 10 years ago and was Chair of the Audit Committee for four years and then Chair of the organisation for the past four years. He believes that the Arts in whatever form gives the vulnerable in our society a voice and ultimately social inclusion. The access to leisure and cultural facilities and through this the opportunity to express their views.
He also believe that through arts our people and communities will be, and feel , safe and secure. Community and individual resilience can be built and those individuals and communities are treated fairly and with respect.
After retirement he joined the Local Health Council, this became Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service which Davie has chaired for a number of years. He also became a member of Dumfries and Galloway Children’s Panel, becoming Chair and the Area Convener on the inception of Children’s Hearings Scotland. Davie also chairs the Training Committee for CHS and West Lothian College and is on the Board of Children 1st covering south west of Scotland.
Davie joined Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership some 10 years ago and was Chair of the Audit Committee for four years and then Chair of the organisation for the past four years. He believes that the Arts in whatever form gives the vulnerable in our society a voice and ultimately social inclusion. The access to leisure and cultural facilities and through this the opportunity to express their views.
He also believe that through arts our people and communities will be, and feel , safe and secure. Community and individual resilience can be built and those individuals and communities are treated fairly and with respect.
Catriona McGhie
Catriona was born and raised in Stranraer and graduated from Perth College UHI with an Honours
Degree in Popular Music in 2017 before returning to Dumfries and Galloway. She developed a keen
interest in Event Management during her time away and volunteered at events such as the
Hebridean Celtic Festival and Celtic Connections.
Catriona has been involved with Stranraer RNLI Park Fest since 2016, both as a member and leader
of the Young Guns Team, and more recently the overall Event Manager. She is Chair of Dumfries and
Galloway Arts Festival’s Young Promoters Group and Stranraer Music Town Committee, and is also
Tutor for Stranraer Guitar Club Juniors.
As a freelancer, Catriona was employed as Entertainment Coordinator for SkiffieWorlds 2019,
planning and developing a weeklong programme featuring music, theatre and dance as part of the
World Championship event’s Shoreside Festival.
Catriona has an eclectic taste in music, but as a performer has an interest in Scottish Traditional
Music, and in 2017 released her debut album, Òran, as part of her Degree project.
Degree in Popular Music in 2017 before returning to Dumfries and Galloway. She developed a keen
interest in Event Management during her time away and volunteered at events such as the
Hebridean Celtic Festival and Celtic Connections.
Catriona has been involved with Stranraer RNLI Park Fest since 2016, both as a member and leader
of the Young Guns Team, and more recently the overall Event Manager. She is Chair of Dumfries and
Galloway Arts Festival’s Young Promoters Group and Stranraer Music Town Committee, and is also
Tutor for Stranraer Guitar Club Juniors.
As a freelancer, Catriona was employed as Entertainment Coordinator for SkiffieWorlds 2019,
planning and developing a weeklong programme featuring music, theatre and dance as part of the
World Championship event’s Shoreside Festival.
Catriona has an eclectic taste in music, but as a performer has an interest in Scottish Traditional
Music, and in 2017 released her debut album, Òran, as part of her Degree project.
Karen Ward Boyd
Karen is currently Director of The Holywood Trust and has been for the past ten years, since leaving the Scottish Arts Council in 2010 to return to work in the region.
Karen was born and educated in Dumfries, studying design in Newcastle and the University of East Anglia. She has worked in a range of public sector organisations throughout the years, across Scotland, gaining experience in areas such as community engagement, event production, product design development, public art, grant-making and arts capital projects.
Karen’s return to working in the region and a move to the third sector has given her the opportunity to building up a knowledge of the arts sector on a regional scale, as well as connecting on a national level.
Karen is currently Director of The Holywood Trust and has been for the past ten years, since leaving the Scottish Arts Council in 2010 to return to work in the region.
Karen was born and educated in Dumfries, studying design in Newcastle and the University of East Anglia. She has worked in a range of public sector organisations throughout the years, across Scotland, gaining experience in areas such as community engagement, event production, product design development, public art, grant-making and arts capital projects.
Karen’s return to working in the region and a move to the third sector has given her the opportunity to building up a knowledge of the arts sector on a regional scale, as well as connecting on a national level.
Katharine Wheeler
Katharine is a visual and community artist focused on socially engaged, participatory developed work and the role that creative activity can have in community-led development and planning as part of growing our places. Working professionally since 2005 she describes her 'role' as an artist in this work as bringing the tools, technique and understanding of creative process and learning from 15 plus years of 'making' into projects that focus on large scale participatory arts at a strategic level.
Katharine is from Dumfries and Galloway moving back to the area with a young family partly due to the hope of opportunity presented by some of the creative organisations in the region and the love of our rural spaces. She is a freelance practitioner, part of the artistic collective of The Stove Network in Dumfries (since 2015) and a founding member of the Old School Thornhill, a regeneration project looking to develop a professional 'hub' for the area of DG3.
"I believe that what we have in this region is an opportunity to really support and build on the work of our creative community in a way that is part of, and not separate from, other areas of work and activity."
Katharine is from Dumfries and Galloway moving back to the area with a young family partly due to the hope of opportunity presented by some of the creative organisations in the region and the love of our rural spaces. She is a freelance practitioner, part of the artistic collective of The Stove Network in Dumfries (since 2015) and a founding member of the Old School Thornhill, a regeneration project looking to develop a professional 'hub' for the area of DG3.
"I believe that what we have in this region is an opportunity to really support and build on the work of our creative community in a way that is part of, and not separate from, other areas of work and activity."
Julian Watson
Julian has over thirty years’ experience working in the visual arts – encompassing museum and exhibition curating, art conservation, arts centre management, historic property and land management, archive development and art publishing, as well as being an artist and illustrator with a particular interest in the link between word and image.
He lives in Dumfries and Galloway and has active connections in Northern England and Northern Ireland. He works in consultancy with an emphasis on change-of-use in historic buildings and whole-community development though action planning and regeneration.
Living and working in Dumfries and Galloway has strengthened and deepened his understanding of issues facing rural communities which exist away from modern conurbations - and how all the arts can and do reflect and enhance our experience of these, often in remarkably abundant ways.
He lives in Dumfries and Galloway and has active connections in Northern England and Northern Ireland. He works in consultancy with an emphasis on change-of-use in historic buildings and whole-community development though action planning and regeneration.
Living and working in Dumfries and Galloway has strengthened and deepened his understanding of issues facing rural communities which exist away from modern conurbations - and how all the arts can and do reflect and enhance our experience of these, often in remarkably abundant ways.
