The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has announced four key posts to head up new priority areas within the organisation’s remit. Iain Davidson has been appointed to Visual Arts and Crafts, Paul Harron will take on the area of Architecture and Public Art, Julianne McCormick will lead Community Arts (Social inclusion) while Robbie Meredith will be responsible for Literature and Language Arts. According to the Arts Council, the new areas aim to address vital elements of its strategy up to 2006, with an emphasis on increased access and participation. Davidson, who takes up his post with immediate effect, has moved from his role as Crafts Development Co-ordinator and Arts Development Officer with the council. Previously, he worked as Arts Development Officer with Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, and as a freelance arts worker. Harron is currently an Associate Lecturer with the Open University who has an extensive background in publishing, for companies such as: Phaidon Press, as Editor of Architecture and Design; Laurence King Publishing, as Senior Editor of Architecture and Design; and Appletree Press, as Publishing Manager. He will take up his post in January 2003. McCormick is currently Creative Development Officer (East of Bann) with the Workers’ Educational Association, while Meredith has multiple roles as an Outreach Officer with the Linen Hall Library, a teaching assistant in the School of English at Queen’s University of Belfast and a regular contributor to Fortnight magazine. Both will also take up their posts in January next year.