Trustees
Royal High School Preservation Trust
Trustees
Non-remunerated
The former Royal High School is a remarkable piece of civic heritage. An internationally recognised Greek-revival building designed by Thomas Hamilton, it was completed in 1829 and was the original cause of Edinburgh becoming known as “the Athens of the North”. Since closing its doors as a school in 1968, the building has struggled to find a new use. In 2015, the Royal High School Preservation Trust put forward a proposal which after extensive public scrutiny was unanimously approved by the City Council, and is now in the process of being delivered.
The Trust’s proposal seeks to provide an economically sustainable and culturally suitable purpose for the site which would allow continued public use and access to the building. The proposal is centred on a world-class centre for music education and public performance, supported by an exceptional renovation of the building and its surroundings. The proposal would bring:
- a National Centre for Music with spaces for classical music education, community access and performance
- new premises for an expanded St Mary’s Music School
- a variety of other elements including a new garden and café.
The great majority of the funding for the proposal is already in place, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Dunard Fund. The Trust has worked to ensure the successful delivery of its vision whilst maintaining public understanding and support for the proposal. As the pace of development accelerates, the Trust is now looking to expand its experienced Board with the addition of two new Trustees.
The new Trustees would be part of a stable, established, working Board comprised of eminent and dedicated individuals that share the vision of the Trust. There would also be an expectation for the new Trustees to be involved in or to lead a subcommittee within the candidate’s particular specialism. To this end, the Trust is currently looking for two Trustees with experience in one of the following specialisms:
- Marketing, PR and Communication
- Property/Construction Project Management
The ideal candidate would have strong leadership skills and experience in leading or chairing boards or committees. Candidates with a passion for classical music and/or built heritage would be well suited. A working knowledge for the City of Edinburgh would additionally stand a candidate in good stead. Candidates would naturally see the building’s restoration as a considerable gain for Scotland’s built heritage and its repurposing a substantial enrichment to Scotland’s cultural life.
For more information on the organisation, role and how to apply, please visit the dedicated microsite at www.aspenpeople.co.uk/rhspt
For a confidential discussion, please contact Donogh O’Brien or Mike Orr at Aspen People on 0141 212 7555.