Changing Faces

Andrew Whyte (pictured), the BBCs former Head of Corporate and Public Relations, has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Communications at Arts Council England.

Shona Rattray, formerly of Suspect Culture, is the new Projects Manager for Birds of Paradise Theatre Company. Robert Softley has been appointed to lead the companys Agent for Change programme, to initiate work with other theatre companies interested in inclusive practice.

De Montfort Hall Leicester has appointed Claire Ward, previously Marketing Co-ordinator at The Cresset Theatre, Peterborough, as Marketing Officer. Kate Hendry, previously Marketing Officer with the Nottingham City Council Arts and Events team, is the new Press and Publicity Officer.

Ralph Rugoff (pictured), currently Director of the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts in San Francisco, has been appointed Director of the Hayward Gallery.

Rambert Dance Companys Director of Marketing, Susan Coffer, is leaving to join Northern Stage as Administrative Director. Rambert Education is expanding with Melanie Peart, formerly project archivist for The Wellcome Foundation Archive, joining as Archivist, and Laura Harvey, currently Education Administrator, taking up the post of Lambeth and Southwark Project Manager. Laura will be replaced as Education Administrator by Louise Jardine.

Dance South West has appointed Ian Abbott, formerly of the National Student Drama Festival, as Regional Youth Dance Co-ordinator.

Nina Baker has joined Siobhan Davies Dance as its new Communications Manager. She was previously External Relations Manager at George Piper Dances.
Franck Bordese has taken up the post of Deputy Director at the South London Gallery. He will be replaced as General Manager at East London Dance by Amanda Davey.

Judith Webster is taking up a new position as part-time Education Consultant at London Sinfonietta. She previously ran the Education Department for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and is currently working freelance for the Royal College of Music and her own ensemble, nuance. Anna Rice, previously Community and Education Co-ordinator at the RPO, has been appointed Education Projects Manager.

Nansi OConnor, Arts Manager (Visual Arts), is leaving Visiting Arts after six years in post.

Liza Weeks, formally Marketing Officer at Salisbury Arts Centre, has joined the team at CCR Data Ltd as Mailing Account Handler.

Howard Sherwood (pictured) has set up as a freelance project manager for print and screen-based communication projects in the arts, heritage and education sectors.

Sefton Arts & Cultural Services has appointed Emma Burrows to the new post of Assistant Arts Marketing Manager, based at Southport Arts Centre. She is leaving Southports local radio station, Dune FM, where she was Acting Sales Manager.

Michael Craven has been appointed to the post of Director, Organisation Development, for Arts Council England, based at its National office. He was previously Director of Visual Arts and Literature at Arts Council England, South East.

James Hehir, Chief Executive of Ipswich Borough Council, has been named as Chairman of DanceEast, taking over from Jeremy Osborne.

Lester Lloyd-Reason, Professor of International Enterprise Strategy at the Ashcroft International Business School, is the new Chair of Menagerie Theatre Company.

JILL FRASER, MBE.
Jill Fraser MBE, Artistic and Executive Director of the Watermill, died on 10 February following a long battle with breast and bone cancer. Together with her husband James Sargant, she purchased the Watermill Theatre in 1981 and led its development from a local rep, opening for six months of the year, into an internationally-respected year round producing house. The Watermill has toured to 21 countries including the UK, particularly with the all-male ensemble company Propeller, which Jill co-founded with Edward Hall. Her husband, together with the theatres Associate Directors, Edward Hall and John Doyle, will oversee plans for the future of her theatre. A new Artistic Director will be appointed in October 2007 and an Executive Director in January 2008.