A producer, programmer and event manager, she is already well known locally, having worked with several local venues, artists, and promoters in her role as festivals and project manager for Puppet Animation Scotland.
She said: “I have a passion for working with organisations that are doing something new and exciting. I’m looking forward to working with the brilliant team at Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival to deliver inspiring and engaging events across the region.”
Melanie takes up her new post at the end of the month and will have a leading role in the festival in July and help with the Autumn Arts Live programme.
She added: “I look forward to promoting and celebrating the cultural life of the region and promoting artists based in Dumfries and Galloway. I also intend to bring the very best performers from Scotland and beyond to our local audiences right across the region. Everyone should have the opportunity to access excellent performing arts, homegrown as well as national and international.”
Meanwhile, the DG Arts Festival team this week learned that they had successfully raised all the money needed for this year’s festival, including £50,000 from Creative Scotland and £10,000 from Events Scotland.
This money will be used to shine the spotlight on local performing artists and they are also working closely with Assembly, the largest multi-venue organisation on the Edinburgh fringe, to bring performances and performers from across Scotland and beyond to the region.
And festival chairman Ken Gouge has given reassurances about how the event has been pandemic proofed with covid prevention strategies in place.
He said: “As we emerge from the challenges of dealing with a pandemic, engaging with the arts as a maker or participant has never been more important for our sense of well-being. The performing arts, in particular, can reduce our sense of isolation and bring our communities together joyfully.
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Melanie Purdie as our new strategic and creative director especially in the same week as announcing the funding we have received from Creative Scotland and Event Scotland.
“Melanie’s appointment is a major step in delivering our strategic vision for the future of performing arts in Dumfries and Galloway. We welcome her into our team at this very exciting time in our organisation’s development.”
