A new chapter in the Moat Brae story is under way with children’s author Mairi Kidd taking the lead.
She has been charged with driving Scotland’s National Centre for Children’s Literature through “recovery” from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mairi, who takes takes up the reins this month, 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.”
Her post is part-funded by South of Scotland Enterprise,
Moat Brae opened in 2019 and attracted 26,000 people in its first nine months before Covid-19 struck.
Pandemic restrictions meant a 70 per cent drop in visitors last year as it was forced to close or curtail events. It was also closed at the start of this year.
Flora Burns, chairwoman of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust, told the Standard that Mairi will now be “reshaping the organisation to fulfil its vision of championing children’s books and empowering all children in Scotland through books”.
She 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.”
The staff and volunteers have worked hard to reignite interest and attract visitors this year with many successful events held so far, as well as regular groups, tours around the house. Its rooms are now open for birthday and event bookings.
Events included a new partnership with Wigtown Book Festival, a major world class exhibition – the cutting-edge interactive “Enchanted Journeys: Adventures in Storytelling” created by design company MinaLima. It is renowned for creating world class exhibitions such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Game of Thrones studio tour in Belfast. Scotland’s first Children’s Literature Conference is to be hosted November.
Chief executive of SOSE, Jane Morrison-Ross, said: “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.”
Mairi brings considerable experience from her previous roles as head of literature, languages and publishing at Creative Scotland and as chief executive of Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle.
She is a former managing director of children’s book publisher, Barrington Stoke, where she worked with authors and illustrators including UK Children’s Laureates Michael Morpurgo, Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Quentin Blake, Malorie Blackman, Anne Fine and Chris Riddell.
