Leadership Transition
Creative Scotland CEO Iain Munro Steps Down After Eight Years Amid Bureaucracy Criticisms
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Iain Munro will leave his post as chief executive of Creative Scotland by the end of 2026, the organisation announced on June 29. His departure ends eight years as CEO and 16 years in senior leadership at the body that distributes arts funding across Scotland. The National reported that a successor is expected to take office in January 2027, with a salary exceeding £110,000 per year.
The exit comes after a turbulent two years for Creative Scotland. A 2025 independent review found the agency had become "distant and impersonal" — weighed down by bureaucracy. Munro said his departure arrives at a moment of "immeasurable" transition for the sector.
A 30-Year Career Built Around Scottish Arts Funding
Munro began his career at the Scottish Arts Council in 1996. He joined Creative Scotland when it was formed in 2010, merging the Arts Council with Scottish Screen. He served as Deputy CEO before stepping up to Interim CEO in 2018. He was formally made permanent chief executive in October 2019, according to The Stage.
His tenure included two major achievements. He launched National Lottery funding for culture in Scotland. He also created Screen Scotland, a dedicated film and screen arm with a £20 million annual budget. Chairman Robert Wilson called Munro a "tireless champion" of creativity, saying his introduction of multi-year funding "transformed the landscape of support" for Scottish arts organisations, The Herald reported.
The 2024 Funding Crisis That Shook the Organisation
The turning point came in August 2024. Creative Scotland abruptly closed its Open Fund for Individuals — the main grant for freelance artists. The agency said the Scottish Government had failed to release £6.6 million in promised funding. More than 15,000 people signed a petition demanding action, according to Arts Professional.
First Minister John Swinney reversed the decision and released the money. But the damage was done. Trust between Creative Scotland, the government, and the arts sector collapsed. The Scottish Government commissioned the first-ever independent review of Creative Scotland in September 2024 as a direct result.
Independent Review Found 'Crippling Bureaucracy' at the Top
The review, chaired by Angela Leitch CBE, was published in November 2025. It found Creative Scotland was "valued" but had become a victim of its own complexity. It criticised the agency for onerous application processes that exhausted small organisations. It also found a "lack of appetite for risk" — partly caused by unpredictable budget cuts from the Scottish Government, The National reported.
The review also flagged governance failures. A £84,555 grant to a sexually explicit project called "Rein" — later pulled — was cited as evidence of weak oversight, according to The Herald. In June 2026, Creative Scotland appointed Martin McGoldrick as Chief Operating Officer to lead reforms before a new CEO arrives.
New CEO Inherits a Bigger Budget and a Reform Roadmap
Whoever takes the top job will oversee a large and growing budget. Creative Scotland's projected budget for 2026/27 is £146 million, according to Screen Daily. The Scottish Government has also pledged an additional £100 million for the arts by 2028/29. The new boss will earn more than £110,000 a year.
Opposition parties are watching closely. Scottish Labour's Neil Bibby MSP called for "immediate clarification" on funding and pushed for radical reform of what he called a "quango." With a Holyrood election approaching, the future of Creative Scotland has become a frontline political issue, The Herald reported.
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