Michael Russell, current Scottish Minister for Culture and External Affairs, and Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s Education Secretary, are to exchange jobs. Russell will become the new Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, while Hyslop replaces him to take charge of culture.
Edward Venning, Deputy Director in charge of Marketing and Channels at the Department for Communities and Local Government, has been appointed as Director of Communications and Marketing at Southbank Centre. He will take up his post in March 2010.
Peter Cropper, Co-founder of Music in the Round, will retire as Artistic Director in May 2010 to concentrate on his performing career.
The Theatres Trust has appointed Tim Atkinson as Theatre Building Services Adviser and Clive Dixon as Finance and Monitoring Officer, for ECOVENUE, its three-year programme to provide specialist theatre environmental advice for 48 theatres in London.
Leicester Theatre Trust has announced Pat Weller as its Interim Chief Executive. She will lead the organisation until August 2010, when it is hoped a permanent Chief Executive will be appointed. She joins Curve from the West Yorkshire Playhouse where she has been Acting Producer, and was previously Executive Director of Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre.
Isky Roberts has joined the Arts Marketing Association as Membership Marketing Assistant.
Andrew Mcintyre (pictured) joins Helix Arts in the new role of Fundraiser and Business Support Manager, having previously worked for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and QUAD, Derby. Frances Arnold is a Graduate Apprentice in the new role of Project Assistant.
The new Administrative Director at Musical Theatre Matters is Laoise Davidson. She was previously Head of Communications for the Jewish Music Institute and a freelance arts event manager. She replaces Chris Grady.
Bright Space has undergone an organisational restructure. Alex Mccorkindale has been promoted from Programme Co-ordinator to Creative Programmer (Primary, Early Years and Special Schools), and Anne-Marie Vassiliadis has been promoted from Office Administrator to Programme Co-ordinator. Amy Martin (pictured), a freelance arts professional, joins as Creative Programmer (Secondary, Youth and Pupil Referral Units).
Audiences Northern Ireland has appointed two members of staff. Miriam Crozier is now Projects Officer, and Sara Gunn is Marketing Officer. Crozier was previously Project Co-ordinator for the Art of Regeneration project in Antrim, Ballymena and Magherafelt, and Gunn has been freelancing as a marketing and PR consultant for digital music companies.
Brighton Festival has announced that Brian Eno will be Guest Artistic Director for 2010.