National Galleries of Scotland

An interview with Director General, John Leighton

"I last lived in Edinburgh as a student back in the 1970s. Since then, the city has changed in some ways, but remained the same in others.

"You tend to notice architectural changes first; the new buildings that have sprung up in every available corner. But there are less tangible changes; the place feels more cosmopolitan and European. This is reflected in all sorts of ways, from architectural design to the way that cafes spill out over onto the streets.

"To be the Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) is one of the greatest positions in the art world. It is incredibly important nationally and internationally. I feel excitement and anxiety about holding this position as it is a massive opportunity but an enormous responsibility too.

"I think it’s incredibly important to allow the public to experience art in many forms. At the NGS we work hard to make our collections more widely available to as wide a public as possible. We already have a very loyal following, but we want to broaden our audiences and open up to a wider range of people from diverse backgrounds, from local and national visitors to international tourists.

"The Galleries attracts well over a million visitors every year. We try to present the collections and our exhibitions in ways that will inform and inspire everyone. But within that wide remit we also cater for the needs of particular groups. We offer a lot of programmes for children and schools. For example, our Schools art competition, now in its third year is a huge success, attracting entries from right across the country.

"We also work with groups who would not normally find their way into an art gallery. Recently, for example, we have run programmes for the local Chinese elderly association and for Muslim woman’s groups. Schemes which allow groups like this to discover more about our collections and to gain confidence in their surroundings are incredibly rewarding for the participants.

"The future direction for the NGS lies in the combination of quality and greater access. We want to set the highest standards for our collections and the way they are researched and presented. This goes alongside greater access. We want to create an institution with a low threshold that all people can be comfortable with.

"In terms of Scotland on the international art scene, I think there is a lot of scope to bring out and enhance Scotland as an important player in the art world. There is an amazing resource of talent here. It’s important to show that Scotland is a place where artists can make a career.

"My wife, Gillian, restores paintings and she also studied at Edinburgh College of Art, which was where we met, so I am delighted to be back in Edinburgh. We go back to Amsterdam every couple of months since we have many friends who live there, but I don’t have any family there now.

"I like the combination of tradition with modernity in Scotland. I like the way when I am wandering through the city, I can feel it resonate with centuries of really rich, dark but inspiring history. I certainly hope to see Scotland keep ambitions high, and aspire for the very best.

"My biggest ambition for the National Galleries of Scotland is to see that its heart and centre will be described as 'reminiscent of cultural life in Scotland in the early 21st century.'"

John Leighton

John Leighton has been Director-General of the National Galleries if Scotland since March 2006. He was a Curator of 19th century paintings at the National Galleries in London and Director of the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. John gained his MA in Fine Arts, a degree organised jointly by Edinburgh College of Art and the University of Edinburgh. John has also worked at Edinburgh University as a tutor.

Find out more about the National Galleries of Scotland at: www.natgalscot.ac.uk