Eve Nicol has been appointed at Aberdeen Arts Centre.
A Scottish arts organisation has appointed a new creative director to usher in an inspiring new era for the north east’s cultural landscape.
Aberdeen Arts Centre has welcomed theatre director and playwright Eve Nicol to the role of programming and creative director, taking the reins from outgoing creative director Amy Liptrott.
Originally hailing from Glasgow, Eve is passionate about creating welcoming, inspiring places for dreaming, connection and play, and her work combines a deep commitment to artistic excellence with a DIY entrepreneurial spirit.
Eve said: “After years on tour, I was longing for a creative home. I was drawn to Aberdeen Arts Centre by the renewal and revival it has undergone in recent years. Under Amy's leadership, its profile has really grown within the artistic community – and there’s an energy and an ambition from the whole team that I wanted to be part of.
“The Arts Centre is reaching out, supporting artists, and providing much-needed space for the early seeds of creative dreaming to take root. And there’s an irrepressible drive in the local performing community to share the unbeatable joy of story, song and dance.
“At Aberdeen Arts Centre, I can build meaningful long-term relationships with audiences alongside the companies that bring the centre’s welcoming auditorium to life week after week. We showcase 33 local companies each year, and it’s that kind energy that makes my own heart beat.”
For Eve, the opportunity to support new theatrical talent – and to build on Aberdeen Arts Centre’s rich 61-year history – was too good to pass up. With a passion for artistic development, community building and mentoring, she has ambitious plans for the future of the iconic arts organisation.
She explained: “My background is in small-but-mighty theatre that finds its way in through the cracks to deliver high-quality performance and writing that packs an emotional punch.
“That’s why I see a buzzing future in Aberdeen Arts Centre’s recently revived, historically rich second performance space (the home of Catherine Hollingworth’s landmark Children’s Theatre) as a rough-and-ready lab for raw, fast-moving, high impact artistic development. I want to team up with grassroots creatives to carry forward 31 King Street’s legacy as a place for radical ideas, entrepreneurial creativity, and brilliant homegrown work.
“The stories and artists made in this space will have roots here in the north east but reach far beyond into the national and international new writing and performance landscape. It will put
“Aberdeen Arts Centre, and the city itself, on the map as a creative force to be reckoned with as a testament to what this city and its people can do.”
Eve’s appointment comes amidst a period of growth and expansion for the Arts Centre team, strengthening its position as a leading light in the Scottish arts and culture sector.
Sharon Robertson, chair of the board, added: "I am thrilled to welcome Eve to Aberdeen Arts Centre as our new programming and creative director. Eve blew us away during the recruitment process with her drive and tenacity to succeed as a playwright and director.
“The passion she exudes for the cultural sector – be it grassroots programmes, artist development, or the production of new work – is electric. There’s a buzz of positivity in the arts right now and with Eve’s appointment we feel that here at Aberdeen Arts Centre, too.
“We have made several new appointments in recent months, and Eve is joining a powerhouse of a team. I can’t wait to see the changes and developments this will bring.”
A former resident artist at the Tron Theatre and the first digital associate of the National Theatre of Scotland, Eve is an alumnus of the BBC Writersroom Scottish Voices and was nominated for the Popcorn Award for New Writing. She has delivered creative learning projects for young people for the National Theatre of Great Britain, Citizens Theatre and Traverse Theatre, and is a trustee of the Dewar Arts Awards.
Outgoing creative director Amy Liptrott has been at Aberdeen Arts Centre for the last two years, implementing a number of new initiatives to engage the creative community.
She said: “I'm delighted to be handing over to Eve as she joins the Arts Centre.
“Aberdeen Arts Centre is a very special place, and I have really enjoyed my time here, especially supporting the brilliant local performing community, establishing our Artist Development Programme and growing our Creative Learning Programme.
“Being part of Aberdeen Arts Centre's story has been a privilege and I'm looking forward to seeing the organisation grow, with Eve's vision and the team's dedication, into a bright future.”
Sharon added: “I’d like to thank Amy for her contribution to the Arts Centre and wish her all the best for her future endeavours. Her work has enabled us to continue to build on the centre’s fantastic legacy.
“To further progress our ambitious plans for developing the Arts Centre, we are now looking to appoint an executive director to help Aberdeen’s independent stage grow, diversify and achieve its full potential – all while putting the people of Aberdeen and the surrounding area at the forefront of everything we do.
“As our team expands, we continue to explore new opportunities and possibilities – opening up an exciting future for Aberdeen Arts Centre and for our community.”
Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent arts venue and registered charity in the heart of Aberdeen. For over 60 years, it has played a crucial role in the north east’s vibrant arts scene through its programme of performances, Creative Learning Programme for children and adults, and an Artist Development Programme to support local professional creatives.
The venue encompasses a 350-seater auditorium; café bar; flexible spaces for performances, events, exhibitions and meetings; and the Children’s Theatre, opened in the 1950s as a pioneering youth theatre and now used as a vital resource for professional artist development.
