Shetland Arts welcomed two new arts development officers to the organisation this week.

Clair Aldington has taken up the post of Visual Arts Development Officer following a restructuring of Shetland Arts’ work in this area, which has seen former Visual Arts Co-ordinator Mary Smith take on a new role in marketing for the Trust, as well as responsibility for curating Bonhoga Gallery. Apart from being a freelance artist, Clair has worked in a wide range of arts-related settings including schools and prisons, with young offenders and in women’s refuges. She has moved to Shetland from Oxford where she was Creative Arts Development Worker with the Youth Offending Service, managing one of six regional pilot projects set up by the Arts Council of England, designed to provide arts opportunities for young people who were vulnerable and at risk of offending.

Clair is looking forward to her new job. “I am excited by moving to Shetland and the opportunity it provides to work with both artists and community groups in promoting the visual arts generally, and as a tool for communication and change.”

Clair started work with Shetland Arts this week and is anxious to meet as many people and agencies as she can with a view to developing visual arts in the community. She is also keen to contact individual artists and artists’ groups to discuss how Shetland Arts can work with them to help provide personal, professional and skills development opportunities. She can be contacted on 01595 745759.

Bryan Peterson will be joining Shetland Arts in December as Music Development Officer. Bryan is a well-known figure locally, having been involved with the Shetland music scene for almost twenty years. A keen musician, he has played with a number of Shetland bands including Bongshang, The Wise Monkeys, The Ramstams, Atlantic Accent and The Hammfatters. He is currently completing a Masters Degree in Information Technology with Web Development, and has worked as a freelance lecturer on intellectual property in various colleges and universities around Glasgow and the West of Scotland. Bryan created the Shetlink online community in 2005. Most recently he has been involved with creating music industry interest in young Shetland band Black Bic Biro, as well as playing bass with Glasgow band The Fortunate Sons.

“Shetland culture, and particularly music, has had a hugely positive influence on my life” said Bryan, “and being offered the Music Development post has given me the opportunity to return the favour.”

Bryan will be responsible for developing music in the community at all levels of interest and ability, as well as working with Shetland Arts to realise Mareel, the new music and cinema venue. He will take up his post on 10th December and can be contacted on 01595 743843.

Arts Development Manager Kathy Hubbard said that the organisation was extremely fortunate to obtain the skills of these two exceptionally talented individuals. “We are all really excited at the prospect of working with Clair and Bryan. They both have a very big job to do but we are confident that they will make a success of it, and that they will make a massive contribution to the team, and to the Shetland community at large.”