Janet Archer

Janet Archer took on the function of Executive Producer for The New Real in 2021 following a role as Director, Festival, Cultural and City Events for the University of Edinburgh. Recent work includes producing producing Edinburgh Culture Conversations bringing artists, academics and cultural leaders together to discuss how culture can contribute to society during Covid-19. Before taking up her role at the University she was Chief Executive of Creative Scotland. Prior to joining Creative Scotland, Janet was Director, Dance Strategy for Arts Council England.

Her practice based work includes a 16-year period as Artistic Director for Dance City, the National Dance Agency for the North East of England, where she led on the development of a £7.6M capital project, and directing Nexus Dance, an international touring company commissioning major UK and international choreographers. She has sat on Boards including The Work Room, Glasgow [Chair], Audiences North East [Chair], Phoenix Dance Theatre, ANDA, the Association of National Dance Agencies, and currently the Saltire Society Trust, Ionad Hiort Advisory Board and balletLORENT. As a dancer, she won the Cosmopolitan Dance Award and as a producer, the Digital Dance Award and the British Gas Working for Cities Award.

Janet studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Rambert Academy and the London School of Contemporary Dance. Her family is from Allahabad [now Prayagraj] in India, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, and Derby, England. She has worked internationally for much of her career, forging producing and project partnerships across Europe and more widely.