We’re really excited to tell you about some structural changes to the way we govern our organisation.

Firstly, we’re pleased to announce that Justin Hyslop, one of our co-founders who founded the organisation in 2011, is stepping up to chair the Board of Directors.

Justin Hyslop, Chair of the Board of Directors

Justin is a born and bred Doonhamer and many of you may recognise him from delivering such projects as Dumfries Youth Theatre or as the creative lead for Dumfries Carnival.

Some of our adult audience might also recognise Justin from his role in Le Haggis.

Justin joins

Jamie Milligan (The Swan Restaurant)

Jordan Chisholm (former Associate Artist 2013-2014)

Karen Clapperton (NHS D&G)

Rachel Scott (Scottish Government)

Robertson Weller (Ferintosh Guest House)

Carlo Rinaldi (retired Lecturer and owner of Primo Piano and Doonhamer)

We’re also pleased to announce that from August 2025, we’re going to be testing the idea of Open Board Meetings.

This will mean for the first time that members of our organisation can attend board meetings and take part in some of the discussions that happen. There will still be some restricted items as they relate to contracts that we may hold of our commercial sensitivity, but we’re hopeful that the majority of our board discussion can take place in public.

We recently invited our local community to renew membership and a whopping 600 local people have stepped forward to become members.

Our community organisation is proudly owned, operated and led by our community.

Justin Hyslop, Chair of the Board said:

 “As I mark the first day as chair of the organisation, I want to pay tribute to the incredible work that our volunteers and members do year-round.

 To other organisations and partners across our region, but in particular Dumfries, I want to tell you that we’re open for business, we’re up for collaboration and we are agents for positivity.

We have resources we want to share, and we have the future of our incredible town and its community firmly in our heart.

Membership of our organisation is open to absolutely anybody. If you love what we do and you want to be part of it, come and join us.”

To join our organisation, sign up here

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