Weekly Club Meeting

Gwilym joined the The Crichton Trust in April 2018 and is enjoying the challenge of leading the development of The Crichton as a world destination to work, study, live, play and relax. Gwilym is a creative leader, producer, social enterprise grounded arts person, lifeboat crew member and former Park Ranger. He has led various charities and social enterprises across the UK and worked within the public sector: including the NHS and local government. He has extensive experience of client-side management and leadership of large-scale complex capital building projects. He led the fundraising and political struggle, the build and the opening of Mareel, Shetland’s new £14m music cinema and creative industries centre which opened in August 2012. Mareel won a RIBA and a RIAS award in June 2013, and a Commendation at the 2014 Civic Trust Awards. He completed as part of his role as CEO of Horsecross Arts the £16.6m redevelopment, restoration, and transformation of the renowned Perth Theatre, Scotland. Perth Theatre reopened after nearly four years of closure in November 2017. Shortlisted for a RIAS 2018 Award. He is a Capital Project Advisory Member for the Friends of Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Trust, a Board Member of Regional Screen Scotland, Chair of Cultural Enterprise Office, Chair of TourBook CIC and former Board Member of Creative Scotland, The Touring Network and Advisory Panel Member for ERDF awards in Highlands and Islands.

Gwilym has 20 years experienced in open-air festival and commercial venue (music, cinema and theatre) management with turnovers £7.5m+. He founded Creative Help Ltd in 2013 an agency to support people and places to create through the provision of practical help provided by a specialised team of consultants.

Self-educated while growing up in communes throughout the UK, after two experimental years in school, Gwilym found his way into the arts through a youth arts project in Milton Keynes, beginning his career as a freelance drama and circus workshop leader and street theatre performer. Gwilym is a Fellow of RSA, Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and holds an MSc in Cultural Management and Policy from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. He was also awarded a Honorary Fellowship of the University of Highlands and Islands in 2014 for his outstanding contribution to the arts and education.