New SSA President and Vice-President

Outgoing President Christopher Wood introduces Louise Ritchie as the new President and Gayle Nelson as Vice-President.

It has been my great privilege to be so closely associated for so long with the extraordinary group of artists and collaborators that makes up the Society of Scottish Artists. However, after nearly eight years on Council, three as Vice-President and two as President, I think it is safe to say I have done my time. Although sad to be leaving something that has been such a large part of my life for so long, I am very happy to be handing the governance of the SSA into the very capable hands of Louise Ritchie and Gayle Nelson as President and Vice-President respectively.

It has been a great pleasure to work alongside Louise for the last two years and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank her for all her support and great humour during this time. I would also like to thank Noreen and the many members of Council I have worked with over the last eight years for all their dedication and commitment.

Staging the Annual Exhibition is a daunting task which is made possible only through the tireless efforts of a small group of volunteers to whom the entire Society owes a debt of gratitude; from our administrator, the members of Council and the elected Committees to the small number of members and all the students who return year after year to help. It is their generosity that makes the whole event possible and once again I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all and remind all members that it is their Annual Exhibition and cannot be staged without their active participation.

In the current climate we face what seems like an ever-increasing number of challenges. However we are resilient and we must continue to creatively build on the opportunities that are available to us. We have had to deal with a good deal of unforeseen difficulties over the past few years, but I am sure that the changes we have effected recently will help to make the Society more robust and better equipped to move forward.

I am confident that Louise and Gayle, together with the support of the Council and Julia, our newly appointed administrator, will rise to these challenges and turn their great creative energies to advancing the aims and traditions of the Society in new and interesting ways.

Christopher Wood PPSSA