Hastings steps down as director of Bloody Scotland

Dom Hastings is stepping down as director of Bloody Scotland to take on a new role with The British Council.

Bob McDevitt, currently programmer at Glasgow’s Aye Write! Festival & Pitlochry Winter Words will take on the role of interim director to deliver the 2016 event.

A new permanent director for the festival will be sought in the autumn.

Hastings has been organising the Stirling-based festival since its inception in 2012 and will continue to work with the organisation until the 2016 programme announcement in early June. He is leaving to become programme manager
for festivals and seasons at The British Council - a newly-created role. 

Bloody Scotland chair Jenny Brown said: “It’s been a joy to work with Dom and witness Bloody Scotland grow quickly into one of the leading crime writing events in the UK. The British Council is lucky to have secured someone of his energy and vision. And we’re delighted that taking the festival forward in 2016, is Bob McDevitt, a highly respected festival director, one already well known to writers and publishers.”

Hastings said he had had a “fantastic” time working at Bloody Scotland over the past four years and was “incredibly proud” of what it had achieved in that time.
“Bloody Scotland is a small organisation that punches above its weight and I’m looking forward to watching as a new director takes it to the next level. I’m particularly pleased to have been able to shape the organisation to one that offers all authors a fee, pays staff including interns the Living Wage and works to reduce barriers to participate in, and attend book festivals.”

McDevitt said he had enjoyed attending Bloody Scotland as a punter and looked forward to looking after the 2016 festival. “It should be a fantastic weekend of criminal fun,” he added.

Brownlee Donald Associates will take on responsibility for publicity and marketing for the festival.

Tickets for Bloody Scotland are available from www.bloodyscotland.com.