Dumfries and Galloway Arts Partnership has appointed Dr Matthew Shelley as head of communications of a new body called Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Arts.

The body intends to bring a more strategic direction to the provision of the arts in Dumfries and Galloway, and to allow the region’s arts community to take far greater control of its own future and development.  

Shelley is a journalist and communications specialist who has a long track record of working in the Scottish culture and heritage sectors. He is a former Glasgow news editor of The Scotsman, features editor of the Bristol Evening Post and writer for many regional, national and international publications. Shelley is joined in the three-strong team by Kathleen O'Neill, who will lead the chamber initiative, and Peter Stark OBE.

O'Neill commented: “Over the next year, we will be out there working with artists and organisations of all kinds to ensure that the new organisation is geared to their needs and will do the best possible job of showing off the region’s artistic excellence to the world.”