Glasgow Life appoints Katie Duffy as new Head of Arts and Music
Katie Duffy has been named Glasgow Life’s new Head of Arts and Music.
Her appointment follows an extensive and competitive recruitment process and she will take up her new role from today (Thursday 26 June).
Katie joined Glasgow Life in 2008 and initially spent four years in our Arts and Music team as Area Arts Producer, followed by four years in our Events team as Events Manager working across Glasgow’s diverse portfolio of cultural and sporting events, including the Turner Prize 2015 and the Homeless World Cup 2016.
In December 2016, she took on the role of Senior Cultural Programme Manager within the Glasgow 2018 team where she was instrumental in the design and delivery of the successful cultural programme that supported the city’s hosting of the first-ever multi-sport European Championships in August 2018.
Following the Championships, in early 2019 Katie returned to our Arts and Music team as Senior Projects and Programmes Manager.
Since then, she has contributed to the success and growth of several significant arts and music projects and events, including Celtic Connections, Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art, Glasgow Life’s Creative Communities programme, our Sauchiehall Street Culture and Heritage District project, and the creation and launch of the city’s new Culture Strategy to 2030.
A graduate of the University of Glasgow, having achieved an honours degree in Music and Philosophy and subsequently a Masters with Distinction in Musicology, Katie is also a qualified violin teacher and continues to perform with many of Glasgow’s brilliant amateur orchestras.
She said: “I’m thrilled to be taking on this role at such an exciting time in the city’s cultural life. Glasgow punches well above its weight in delivering a year-round programme of some of Scotland’s best cultural events, festivals, programmes, and experiences, which in turn support our artists and communities and attract thousands of visitors, significantly boosting the country’s economy.
“The breadth, quality and impact of Glasgow’s creative and artistic ecosystem is truly inspiring, and it’s a privilege to be able to champion that contribution locally and globally. The city’s new Culture Strategy provides a refreshed framework for our cultural priorities and ambitions, and I’m looking forward to working with my talented colleagues and sector partners to ensure culture and creativity remain valued and central to a successful, healthy, and inclusive Glasgow.”
Billy Garrett, Glasgow Life’s Director of Culture, Tourism and Events, said: “Katie is a passionate advocate for the transformational power culture has to change lives. With more than 15 years’ experience, she has developed a strong network and impactful partnerships across Glasgow’s cultural sector, and her creativity and collaborative approach makes her the ideal person to lead our Arts and Music service. Glasgow’s creative industries are among the most dynamic in the world and Katie is well placed to help shape their continued success.”