The arts minister who is not really interested in the arts

The Observer has a rather unkind article about Patricia Ferguson, the Scottish arts minister. Among other criticisms, it points out:

Ferguson had arrived in Holyrood at its inception, 'working hard for the people of Maryhill', as her website puts it. Before being given Tourism, Culture and Sport - a role that had become a graveyard of the ambitions of Labour - she had a quietish time as the minister for parliamentary business. She, too, has struggled. Apparently lacking courage, she is clearly uncomfortable in the public eye.

and

I am sorry about Ferguson's lack of interest, her lack of desire to spend time getting to know those whose organisations and businesses she has such a direct effect on. I am particularly sorry now that I can see how much the arts community want her to engage with them. One of those at the lunch said: 'If Patricia and her husband wanted to visit at the weekend, I would be thrilled to
turn up'.
It goes back to the National Theatre of Scotland's reaction when no minister turned up to any of its first season of shows (despite Ferguson belatedly listing theatre as one of her interests on the parliament website). The theatre's managers were actually hurt more than angry.

Look - she does not like the public spotlight, she does not go to the theatre much, she does not engage with the arts community. In short, she may not be a competent minister. But that doesn't make her a bad person...