Alyson Lanning (pictured) is the new Director of Belmont Arts Centre in Shrewsbury, combining this with her responsibility for New Roots, the Youth Music Action Zone for Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. She takes over from Neil Rathmell, who is still based at Belmont Arts Centre as Co-Director of aliss, the Artists & Learning Information & Support Service.
Dance organisation Akademi has bid farewell to Education Officer Cristina Raschi. Penny Homer will be filling in her role temporarily, with Kath Veitch as temporary Education Administrator.
Oxford Playhouse Director Tish Francis (pictured) has announced her intention to stand down as the theatres Chief Executive in autumn 2008.
Rob Bowman has taken up the post of Head of Programmes and Production at Artangel where he will manage the planning, production and presentation of its programme of new commissions. Rob was previously Curator at the ICA. Artangel has also appointed Rachel Anderson as Head of Interaction where she will develop and produce its creative participatory projects. She was previously Education and Outreach Manager at the South London Gallery.
Salisbury Arts Centre has appointed five new members of staff (pictured clockwise from the top). Joanne Lane has been appointed as Marketing Assistant, Abi Bruford has joined as Centre Assistant (Administration), Ruaidhri OMahony is the new Operations Assistant, Robb Blake is Centre Assistant (Operations and Technical) and Stasha McBride has joined the team as Box Officer Co-ordinator.
Chris Batt OBE (pictured), Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council has announced he will retire at the end of the year after four years in the post.
Frances Speight has been appointed as Project Co-ordinator, Open Doors at Suffolk Artlink. She was previously Training Manager at Genesis day service for learning difficulties, Ipswich.
Hazel Tsoi (pictured) is leaving the Independent Theatre Council after three and a half years as Training and Professional Development Administrator to take on freelance work. She has been replaced by Robin Hawkes, previously at the ITC as Office Assistant.
Changing faces at ArtsProfessional
A new editorial team has been appointed at ArtsProfessional, with writer and journalist Nick Jordan joining as Editor. As well as taking over the leading editorial role for the magazine, he will be Editor of the APe-mail newsletter, replacing Catherine Rose, who continues to manage a range of freelance projects in the arts.
Lindsey Cox has joined as Deputy Editor, having previously worked for a number of arts organisations and as a freelance writer and editor.
Former Deputy Editor, Damian Hebron, is now working at Addenbrookes Hospital where he is running its arts in health programme.
Former Co-editors and founders of the magazine, Brian Whitehead and Liz Hill, are taking on new roles: Brian as Publisher, responsible for strategic development, including the launch of a range of new online services in the autumn, and Liz as Consultant Editor, involved in special editorial projects and partnerships.