Gray in attack on English ‘colonists’

ONE of Scotland’s most respected writers has attacked the appointment of English “colonists” to influential and powerful positions in Scotland.

By The Newsroom Monday, 17th December 2012, 12:00 am

Alasdair Gray says the influx of new residents into Scotland can be split into either long-term settlers, whom he approves of, or short-term “colonists” who come north to advance their career.

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Gray’s anger is directed mostly at senior arts administrators, saying that is his area of expertise. But he adds: “I think Scottish folk in other professions will know settlers and colonists with similar attitudes.”

He names Vicky Featherstone, the former artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland, and a number of other senior arts managers, whom he accuses of downplaying Scottish talent. They include Andrew Dixon, who left his post as the inaugural director of Creative Scotland, the arts funding agency, earlier this month.