As many people know Arts Northern Rivers CEO/Regional Arts Development Officer Tony Duke has been away for much of the past quarter. A short while ago we received notice of his resignation.

Arts Northern Rivers Board of Directors has asked long-standing staff member Julie Clark to act in this position until the end of 2011.

This internal change, coupled with other moves, has meant the past few weeks have been a busy time recruiting two new members to our team of personnel.

Arts Northern Rivers is pleased to introduce our new line up:

• Julie Clark, Acting CEO/Regional Arts Development Officer
• Natalie Bull, Office Coordinator/Arts Development Assistant
• Helen Fry, Communications Officer
• Zoe Robinson-Kennedy, Media Intern

In addition to Project Officers:

• Robert Appo, Indigenous Arts Development Officer
• Julie Barratt, ArtStart Young Creatives Mentoring Project Coordinator

Julie Clark says, "For the remainder of the year Arts Northern Rivers will focus on consolidating our services, streamlining our operations, and delivering the 2011 program that is already in place."

"This includes a busy schedule of activities incorporating exhibitions, workshops, forums and a Think Tank, and the ArtStart Young Creatives Mentoring Project showcase, scheduled for the end of the year."

"We will also continue to extend our work in the creative industries, in partnership with members of the Northern Rivers Creative Industries Consortium, and hope to further new developments in the area of Creative Communities."

'On behalf of Arts Northern Rivers I would like to wish Tony Duke all the best in his next adventure, and also Kaley Morrissey, who has left her role as Arts Northern Rivers Office and Finance Manager, to take up a new position.'

For more information on the new faces at Arts Northern Rivers go to http://www.artsnorthernrivers.com.au/pages/about-us-personnel.