Mairi Kidd will take up leadership of Moat Brae, Scotland’s National Centre for Children’s Books, in October 2022. She brings considerable experience from her previous roles at Creative Scotland providing strategic leadership for literature, languages, and publishing, as CEO of Seven Stories and as Managing Director of children’s book publisher Barrington Stoke.
Part-funded by South of Scotland Enterprise and starting in October 2022, Kidd will be charged with leading recovery of the organisation’s building-based offer after the complexities of the pandemic while reshaping the organisation to fulfil its vision of championing children’s books and empowering all children in Scotland through books.
Flora Burns, Chair of Board of Trustees said: “When Moat Brae first opened its doors in 2019, we could not have anticipated the immense disruption to come. As we continue to face enormous challenges across the UK and the wider world, we are ever more determined to ensure all children and young people can access the solace, inspiration and imaginative escape offered by books and reading. We are delighted to welcome Mairi to lead Moat Brae into this new world. Her passion for children’s books is matched in her experience in policy, funding, literature and literacy and we believe we have appointed the very best person to help us deliver our vision.”
Mairi Kidd said: “I have known Moat Brae for many years and look forward to helping shape its future programmes, reaching children and young people and their families, teachers and communities across Dumfries and Galloway and beyond. I look forward to working with colleagues across the world of children’s literature to help develop the conditions for all Scotland’s young readers and the writers and artists who inspire them to thrive.”
Jane Morrison-Ross, Chief Executive at SOSE, added: “This is a really exciting appointment for Moat Brae, and I am delighted South of Scotland Enterprise was able to provide our support for the new role. Moat Brae is such an iconic and historic building which is now recognised as a top-class visitor attraction. The creative and cultural economy is so important to Dumfries, the South and Scotland, and Moat Brae is a key part of that. I am sure under Mairi’s leadership, Moat Brae will have a bright future”.
