Interim arts council chair named

Dai Smith edits the Library of Wales' classic works written in English

The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) is to have an interim chairman.

Professor Dai Smith will take over when the term of current incumbent Geraint Talfan Davies expires this month.

The ACW and opposition parties have expressed concern over the way Culture Minister Alun Pugh has handled the appointment of a new chair.

On Tuesday Mr Pugh also announced that the chair of the review of arts policy will be Elan Closs Stephens, outgoing chair of S4C.

Prof Smith's appointment follows a row which began in January when Mr Pugh announced that Mr Davies, a former BBC Wales controller, would not automatically be given an extension in the role.

Last Friday, the board of the ACW unanimously backed Mr Davies and decided to tell the Commission for Public Appointments, the Charity Commissioner and the Wales Audit Office of their concerns about Mr Pugh's handling of the matter.

But opposition parties at the assembly criticised Prof Smith's appointment.

Plaid Cymru's Owen John Thomas said: "In making this temporary appointment, he is riding roughshod over the code of practice on public appointments."

Liberal Democrats accused Mr Pugh of creating "deep suspicion" and Welsh Conservative Lisa Francis said Mr Pugh's decision had created uncertainty with the arts community.

Geraint Talfan Davies' term finishes at the end of March

"The minister's handling of this situation has been contemptible, dilatory and an embarrassing shambles."

Prof Smith, who joined the ACW two years ago, has held the Raymond Williams chair in cultural history at the University of Swansea since March 2005.

"Art, in all its forms, is the prime expression of the culture and society of Wales," he said.

"We are now at the start of a vital process of review into the future of arts provision for all the people of Wales and the arts council must be the catalyst for a debate stripped of emotion and personalities.

"As a long-standing member of the council, I have accepted the role of interim chair to help facilitate that debate and lead the council's considered response."

Mr Pugh said: "I am very pleased that Prof Dai Smith will take on the role of interim chair until the process to appoint a full-term chair has been completed.

"Professor Smith is not only a distinguished cultural historian, he also has a huge enthusiasm for the arts and is eminently suited to carry out this role."