Arts Council England regional offices are set to benefit from the appointment of two new members to the national arts council. Kentaké Chinyelu-Hope has been appointed the new Chair of Arts Council England, South East and François Matarasso is the new Chair of Arts Council England, East Midlands. Announcing the new appointments Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, MP, said, "I am delighted to welcome Kentaké and François to Arts Council England’s national governing body. They have both demonstrated energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the arts in the regions. With their individual expertise and experience, they bring a valuable new perspective to the national council." Kentaké Chinyelu-Hope began her career in 1994 with the Newham Youth Service as a Youth Arts Development worker. Six years later she launched the London Hip Hop Festival before becoming affiliated with the Arts Council, South East Regional Council in November 2003. As well as being the artistic director of Momi Inc, a development agency for Hip Hop in the UK, Chinyelu-Hope has been Vice Chair of Creative People, a professional development network for arts and crafts, since November 2004. Prior to joining the Council François Matarasso spent 14 years working as a community artist in the East Midlands, a set of experiences that eventually led him to conduct specialist research into community-based cultural activity and its role in people’s lives. Working as a freelance writer and arts researcher since 1994 he has undertaken extensive research as well as helped manage Living Heritage, a major community cultural programme in South East Europe. Both new appointees joined the Council in October 2005. For further information, CLICK HERE.