An Tuireann Arts Centre in Portree on the Isle of Skye is to benefit from the expertise of a visual arts marketing co-ordinator for the next three months.

This is Marcus Wilson's fifth art gallery residency since being appointed to the two-year post last summer, which will see him spend time in various publicly-funded galleries throughout the Highlands and Islands helping them to develop a marketing plan and promote themselves more successfully.

Funded by the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the post was created by HI Arts, the arts development agency for the Highlands and Islands, and could serve as a pilot for similar arts marketing agencies throughout the UK.

Marcus, former marketing manager at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, arrived in Portree earlier this month (May) to take up his most recent residency following periods with the Highland Council Exhibition Service, Art.tm in Inverness, the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney and An Tobar Arts Centre, Tobermory, Isle of Mull.

During his residency at An Tuireann, Marcus will prepare and begin to develop a plan for the gallery, while working on an ongoing strategy for the network of galleries as a whole. Marcus is also on hand to help individual artists in the area with a series of one to one surgeries to help them promote their work through new mediums.

On moving to his new residency on Skye, Marcus said: "I am very impressed with the set up at An Tuireann. The Isle of Skye is extremely fortunate to have a gallery of this quality and professionalism. I look forward to working closely with staff at the centre and local artists to raise people's awareness of the visual arts on the island."

Norah Campbell at An Tuireann said: "We are delighted to have Marcus working with us on our marketing strategy. Over the next few months we hope to address issues such as audience development and customer care, to enable us to continue building our reputation as an exceptional arts centre."