I HAVE every sympathy with the plight of Janet Archer, the embattled ex-director of Creative Scotland ("Arts body in new turmoil after chief quits in row over funding", The Herald, July 19). Being a CEO can be tough, but I find myself infuriated by the flurry of mutually self-congratulatory statements on this occasion from Ms Archer, from Robert Wilson, Chair of Creative Scotland, and from Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs. In terms more appropriate for a leaving do after many years of significant service, they sing the organisation’s and the director’s "achievements", ignoring the fact that they leave in their wake the wreckage of many incomprehensible decisions and the downright cynicism towards them of much of Scotland’s artistic community.

At Creative Scotland’s evidence session before the Scottish Parliament’s Culture Committee, Janet Archer and the interim Chair of Creative Scotland were asked if they built independent scrutiny into their management review processes. They did not seem to understand the concept and talked about employing consultants to help with specific pieces of work. Now, the new chair has announced two internal reviews, one of the controversial Regular Funding Programme and another of all aspects of the organisation’s operations, from values to delivery. No independent element has been announced. Given the self-evident failure of Creative Scotland over 10 years to develop and deliver a coherent mission and to gain the support of Scotland’s creative communities, I do not think that looking into the mirror for a few more months will produce the radical change that this situation requires, the opportunity for which is offered by the director’s resignation.

Claire Barker MSP has called on the minister to undertake a root and branch review of the organisation; I support the spirit of this call but, again, I do not think this will suffice. The minister is responsible for establishing Creative Scotland in its current form, has appointed both directors and also the chairs and members of its board and has received progress reports over its 10-year life. The minister has also set the framework and priorities for Creative Scotland’s spending of public funds. The minister appears to have been incapable of shaping this arm’s length government agency in a way that serves Scotland well and that retains the skills and loyalty of its managers, staff and clients. The minister is also responsible for the recent publication of an anaemic draft Strategy for Culture in Scotland that, conveniently, omits any critique of the role of Creative Scotland. Any root and branch review of Creative Scotland should include an investigation of the role of the minister in presiding over this decade of incompetence and decline.

Nicola Sturgeon recently restructured her Cabinet. Despite her record, the current minister retained her responsibility for culture. I think this was an opportunity missed to bring fresh thinking and more dynamic leadership into the role, possibly by appointing a dedicated Culture Minister with no other distractions, such as tourism and international relations. I would urge the First Minister to use the opportunity of the current hiatus to think seriously about how the Government’s role in Scotland’s culture might be better served.

Damian Killeen,

21 Bedford Terrace,

Edinburgh.