Alistair Hardaker
Image: Catherine Muirden (Bryan Robertson)
The new chair will focus on securing sustainable funding and strengthening public engagement through The Art Works development in North Edinburgh.
The National Galleries of Scotland has announced a new Chair of the Board.
Catherine Muirden will serve in the role for four years, beginning 1 November 2025.
Muirden has previously served positions with Barclays, Marks & Spencer, the John Lewis Partnership, and The Co-operative Group.
She has also served on arts boards in Scotland over the last twenty years, recently as Vice chair of Scottish Ballet, and prior to that, as chair of the Fruitmarket Gallery.
The new appointment is currently a board member of arts education charity Sistema Scotland.
Muirden said: “My priorities will include safeguarding and enhancing the national art collection, strengthening public engagement through The Art Works development and working to secure sustainable funding and infrastructure.
Muirden succeeds outgoing chair Benny Higgins.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the Board of Trustees and support the leadership team during a period of significant challenges. Throughout this time our unerring focus has been to cherish, protect, and nurture our wonderful national collection of art and to seek to make it accessible to all,” said Higgins.
Anne Lyden, director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “We look forward to working with Catherine to bring our plans for The Art Works – a new, free experience in the heart of North Edinburgh – to life. This state-of-the-art home for Scotland’s art will allow visitors to explore 130,000 artworks in a completely new way. More than just a place to visit, The Art Works will enable our collection to travel across Scotland, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience and enjoy it.”
Plans for The Art Works were first approved in 2023. The multi-purpose building will act as a new community space, and conservation, research and art storage facility in North Edinburgh.
The Art Works: Plans approved for new National Galleries of Scotland building
Lyden continued: “I would also like to express my sincere thanks to our current Chair, Benny Higgins, under whose leadership the National Galleries of Scotland has flourished.”
