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Scottish Arts Council (SAC) Director, Tessa Jackson, has resigned, and left her post last week.
No interviews are being granted in relation to her sudden departure, but speculation about her long-term prospects as head of the Arts Council had been rife, both in arts circles and in the Scottish media during recent weeks. Jackson was appointed in 1999, but it is widely believed that a clash of styles and ideas on how to lead the organisation in the future had created a rift between her and the more recently-appointed Chairman, former BBC Radio 4 Controller, James Boyle, which led to her early departure. In recent weeks Boyle was called to give evidence before members of the Scottish Executive in an enquiry into the controversial decision by Scottish Ballet to reposition itself as a contemporary dance company. His support for the proposed changes was considered less enthusiastic than the positive statement issued by Jackson earlier in the year. A new Director for SAC is to be sought, but meanwhile the Head of Funding, Graham Berry will become Acting Director.