Culture Counts Appoints New Directors
Culture Counts - the national network of arts, heritage and creative industries organisations in Scotland - is pleased to announce the appointment of a new leadership team. From June 2025, Kathryn Welch (currently Interim Director of Culture Counts) will take up the position of Director – Networks, Projects and Partnerships. She will be joined in a co-leadership role by Joseph Peach, who will take up the role of Director – Policy and Public Affairs.
Prior to joining Culture Counts as Interim Director in autumn 2024, Kathryn was Programme Lead for Creative Scotland's Culture Collective - nurturing a network of hundreds of participatory arts practitioners and organisations across Scotland. She brings experience from previous roles as Interim Director for Creative Lives and Operations Director for Macrobert Arts Centre, as well as freelance roles with organisations including Arts Council England, British Council, Arts and Humanities Research Council and Create Ireland.
Joseph re-joins Culture Counts from NorthWest 2045, where in recent months he's conducted and authored a major Scottish Government funded research project on drivers of mainland rural depopulation. Prior to this, he’s been involved with Culture Counts for a number of years, latterly as Advocacy Manager, as well as positions with organisations including abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Scottish Parliament. This work accompanies a career in traditional music, as a performer, composer, educator and artist manager.
These appointments represent an important step in terms of strengthening Culture Counts’ ability to work towards supporting a thriving cultural sector, promoting the public benefit of the arts, heritage and cultural industries; protecting the eco-system of these industries; and demystifying the operations of Government and Parliament. One further role at Culture Counts - that of Engagement and Communications Manager, is recruiting now, and is open for applications until Friday 20 June 2025.
Alex McGowan, Chair of the Culture Counts Steering Group said: We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Joe and Kathryn as our new Co-Directors. They each bring a wealth of expertise in partnership development, network building, public affairs, and advocacy. Having both worked closely with Culture Counts in recent years, they are deeply familiar with our members’ network and the vital role we play in promoting the value and impact of Scotland’s cultural sector.
The Steering Group is very much looking forward to working alongside Joe and Kathryn in this new chapter. Their passion, commitment, and leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our collective voice—particularly as we look ahead to the Scottish elections next year.
Kathryn Welch commented: It’s really exciting to be taking on this new co-leadership role for Culture Counts, and to be working alongside Joseph. Together, we’ll be able to combine detailed, thoughtful policy analysis with the building of a vibrant, active network across the arts and cultural sector. Culture Counts’ greatest strength is the breath, diversity and experience of our network. I’m looking forward to leveraging our collective voice to position culture at the heart of our communities, our relationships with one-another and with the world, and our thinking about the kinds of future we’re looking to build.
Joseph Peach commented: I’m thrilled to be joining Culture Counts in this new position of co-leadership with Kathryn. Looking ahead to the next election and beyond, there’s real opportunity for Culture Counts to build on the project's work to-date, strengthening the connection between policy development and decision making, and the needs and realities of the arts, heritage and creative industries. I’m excited to work with our members, the steering group and partners across the sector to make sure that our collective voice is heard, understood and reflected in the decisions that shape our shared future.