The National Galleries of Scotland has appointed Catherine Muirden as the new Chair of the Board, effective 1 November 2025, for a four-year term. Muirden brings extensive experience from corporate roles at Barclays, Marks & Spencer, the John Lewis Partnership, and The Co-operative Group, alongside two decades of arts board service in Scotland, including as Vice Chair of Scottish Ballet and Chair of the Fruitmarket Gallery. She succeeds Benny Higgins, who led the board through a period of significant challenges. Director-General Anne Lyden expressed enthusiasm for working with Muirden to advance The Art Works, a new state-of-the-art facility in North Edinburgh that will serve as a community space, conservation center, and art storage hub, enabling broader public access to Scotland's national collection.
This appointment matters because it comes at a pivotal moment for the National Galleries of Scotland as it prepares to open The Art Works, a major infrastructure project approved in 2023 that will transform how the public engages with the nation's 130,000 artworks. Muirden's dual background in high-level corporate governance and arts leadership positions her to address key priorities: safeguarding the collection, strengthening public engagement through the new facility, and securing sustainable funding. The leadership transition signals institutional continuity and strategic focus on expanding accessibility and conservation capacity.