The Board of The Glasgow School of Art has announced
today, 26 November 2018, that it has appointed Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam
as Director of The Glasgow School of Art.
today, 26 November 2018, that it has appointed Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam
as Director of The Glasgow School of Art.
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| Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam who has been appointed Director of The Glasgow School of Art |
The appointment will initially be for one year and the
GSA will in due course undertake a full candidate search. Since
16th October, Professor McAra-McWilliam and Professor Ken Neil have been
acting as joint interim Directors and the Board wishes to thank Professor
Neil for undertaking this role.
GSA will in due course undertake a full candidate search. Since
16th October, Professor McAra-McWilliam and Professor Ken Neil have been
acting as joint interim Directors and the Board wishes to thank Professor
Neil for undertaking this role.
Irene McAra-McWilliam joined the GSA in 2005 as
Head of School of Design which flourished under her leadership and
expanded to include the Institute of Design Innovation. She was awarded
an OBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours in recognition of her work in Higher
Education, Innovation and Design, and in that year was appointed Deputy
Director (Innovation). She established the GSA’s Highland Campus at
Altyre and created The Innovation School as the GSA’s fifth academic school,
reflecting our growth in learning, teaching and research in this new area
of creative practice.
Head of School of Design which flourished under her leadership and
expanded to include the Institute of Design Innovation. She was awarded
an OBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours in recognition of her work in Higher
Education, Innovation and Design, and in that year was appointed Deputy
Director (Innovation). She established the GSA’s Highland Campus at
Altyre and created The Innovation School as the GSA’s fifth academic school,
reflecting our growth in learning, teaching and research in this new area
of creative practice.
Speaking on her appointment Professor
McAra-McWilliam said:
McAra-McWilliam said:
“I’m honoured to have been appointed as Director of
The Glasgow School of Art. Although we’ve recently had to deal with a very
challenging period, I’m confident that we have the soul and spirit to move
ahead, aware of just what a successful and innovative art school
we are.
The Glasgow School of Art. Although we’ve recently had to deal with a very
challenging period, I’m confident that we have the soul and spirit to move
ahead, aware of just what a successful and innovative art school
we are.
Together, we can build on our long history of
creativity and innovation as one of the world’s finest art schools. Together,
we’ll focus on the future, re-engage with our diverse communities, and
re-energise the GSA with the rebuild of the Mackintosh building and our
proud history and heritage at its core”.
creativity and innovation as one of the world’s finest art schools. Together,
we’ll focus on the future, re-engage with our diverse communities, and
re-energise the GSA with the rebuild of the Mackintosh building and our
proud history and heritage at its core”.
The Board wishes Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam every
success in her new role and is confident that the GSA will continue to be
a successful, independent and internationally highly esteemed art school
under her leadership.
success in her new role and is confident that the GSA will continue to be
a successful, independent and internationally highly esteemed art school
under her leadership.
Ends
Notes for Editors
Irene McAra-McWilliam biography
Irene has worked at the Glasgow School of Art since
2005. Her experience included 18 years in the Netherlands where she was the
Design Research Director for Philips Electronics in the Netherlands working on
design-led innovation including European Commission funded projects. She was
appointed Deputy Director (Innovation) at GSA in 2016. She developed our
Highland Campus in Moray which opened in 2016, created the Innovation School
which was launched in 2017, and is responsible for educational innovation at
GSA, including the future use of the Mackintosh building for our students,
including wider access students in Glasgow and Scotland, our Mackintosh
research community, and our national and international research partners.
2005. Her experience included 18 years in the Netherlands where she was the
Design Research Director for Philips Electronics in the Netherlands working on
design-led innovation including European Commission funded projects. She was
appointed Deputy Director (Innovation) at GSA in 2016. She developed our
Highland Campus in Moray which opened in 2016, created the Innovation School
which was launched in 2017, and is responsible for educational innovation at
GSA, including the future use of the Mackintosh building for our students,
including wider access students in Glasgow and Scotland, our Mackintosh
research community, and our national and international research partners.