On International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating our Chief Executive Jane Spiers, an inspirational woman at the heart of the arts in the North East.

Jane joined Aberdeen Performing Arts in 2012 and under her leadership the organisation delivered the £10M Music Hall redevelopment, introduced three new festivals to the city, expanded and diversified work on all stages, deepened engagement with communities, and established Freshly Squeezed Productions to commission and produce work in the North East.

Jane’s contribution in the North East was recognised when she became the first women to be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce Northern Star Business Awards in 2019. In December 2021, Jane was presented with an honorary degree from Robert Gordons University. The award of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) was presented to Jane by the University’s Chancellor, Dame Evelyn Glennie CH, for her lifetime achievements in the creative and cultural sector.

Jane started her career in bookselling and publishing, went on to manage the arts team for the London Borough of Southwark and ran the Literature Department for Southern Arts Board in Central Southern England before returning to Scotland. She led the Heritage and Cultural Services Team at Stirling Council and project managed the redevelopment of the Stirling Tolbooth Arts Centre, winner of the Crown Estates Conservation Award. Jane was Horsecross Arts first Chief Executive and during her ten years in the role she opened the new Perth Concert Hall to critical acclaim, championed the redevelopment of Perth Theatre and led a multi award-winning team.

While in post as Chief Executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts, Jane has served on a number of local and national boards. She was appointed by the DCMS to the Board of the Theatres Trust, she is currently on the Board of the Sage Gateshead, the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, Sound Scotland, UK Touring Partnership, Scottish Theatre Producing Consortium and the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce Policy Council. Jane is an RSA Fellow and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

We can’t think of a more deserving women to celebrate on International Women’s Day, Jane’s continued contribution to the arts in Scotland is outstanding and all of us at Aberdeen Performing Arts couldn’t be prouder to work alongside her.