An Arts Development Officer has been appointed for the first time by Ipswich Borough Council.
Part of Rebecca Weaver's job will be to raise the profile of culture and the arts within and outside the town. The appointment comes after the publication of a draft Cultural Strategy. Kara Chatten has been appointed Arts Project Officer.
In the New Year, the Wolsey Art Gallery and The Room Upstairs at Christchurch Mansion will no longer display contemporary visual arts which will make way for more of the Museum's Collections.
But WAG Visual Arts Ipswich will continue to promote and support visual arts in the town and Rebecca, Council leaders and their partners will be looking to secure a new visual arts venue. In the meantime St. Mary-at-the-Quay Church will, for the second year running, be the home for three weeks of art interventions including live art, installation and sculpture from 27th August to 17th September 2005.
Rebecca said: "As an advocate of the Arts and contemporary culture, I want to see Ipswich become an even more vibrant, innovate and exciting place to live and work in. I look forward to help raising the profile and pushing the arts agenda for the town and highlighting its contribution to the region and beyond."
Councillor Judy Terry, Ipswich Borough Council's Portfolio-holder for Culture & Leisure, said: "Rebecca will help us to take Visual Arts in the town forward and I am sure we will make good progress in partnership with many other people and organisations."