Changing Faces

Chris Monks will succeed Alan Ayckbourn as Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, in April. Monks has worked for The New Vic, The Orange Tree Theatre, Bolton Octagon and the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

Milton Keynes Gallery has appointed Anthony Spira (pictured), currently Curator at the Whitechapel Gallery in London, as its Director. In May, he will succeed Michael Stanley, who has left to become Director of Modern Art Oxford.

Liverpool-based theatre company Fuse has appointed Andrew Raffle as Artistic Producer. He joins from Burnley Youth Theatre, where he was Artistic Director.

Sean Holmes (pictured), who was appointed Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith last year, will take up his new position in the spring. He has appointed four Artistic Associates to work with him on his artistic policy and programming: award-winning lighting designer, Paule Constable; performance poet and playwright, Tashan Cushnie (pictured); actor and co-Artistic Director of Filter theatre company, Ferdy Roberts, and playwright, Simon Stephens.

Belfast’s Lyric Theatre has appointed Ciaran McAuley (pictured) as Chief Executive. He is currently Commercial Director at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, and will start at the Lyric in April.

The Broadway, Barking, has announced Karena Johnson as its new CEO/Artistic Director. She joins after over a decade as a theatre director, producer and facilitator of emerging artists, including being Acting Artistic Director of Contact Theatre in Manchester, Artistic Director of touring theatre company Kushite and Head of Theatre Programming at Oval House theatre.

Karilyn Brown has joined the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies as General Manager. She was formerly Executive Director responsible for national and international audience and market development at the Australia Council.
After more than 33 years as Museum Director and Chief Executive of the Black Country Living Museum, Ian Walden OBE (pictured) will retire at the end of July.

Helen Voce has joined the Cultural Enterprise Office as Event Programmer. She was previously Craft Development Officer in Dumfries and Galloway.