GATESHEAD.- BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art announced the appointment of Agnes Wilkie in the role of Deputy Director. She will take up the position on Monday 11 June and will play a leading role in the direction of BALTIC’s strategic development through external relations, commercial and trading activities, development and communications in order to support the organisation’s vision and objectives.

Speaking today about the appointment Godfrey Worsdale Director of BALTIC said: “I am delighted that we have been able to strengthen BALTIC’s senior management team through the appointment of Agnes Wilkie. She brings a wealth of experience that will be invaluable in helping to take BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art forward in to the next phase of its development. The organisation is in the early stages of a number of new initiatives including the partnerships with Northumbria University and with Agnes’ previous employer – Northern Film & Media, as well as the new space – BALTIC 39, which recently opened in Newcastle. The next few years could see the landscape change significantly for cultural organisations and Agnes’ creativity and experience will be important in responding to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Peter Buchan, BALTIC’s Chairman added: “BALTIC is in a good place. There are many great initiatives underway, for example, the partnership with Northumbria and BALTIC 39 that is currently being developed. Yet it is only the beginning! Agnes’ appointment will enable us to continue our ambitious development programme to bring the very best of international contemporary art to the widest possible range of audiences.”

Agnes’ career began in journalism, initially in print but quickly moving into broadcasting, first as a Researcher, moving on to Producer and Executive Producer, but finally as Head of Features and Entertainment, which encompassed commissioning and producing, from documentaries and quiz shows to drama and feature films. During this time, her programmes won numerous BAFTAs and Royal Television Society awards, as well as being shortlisted for the prestigious Prix Italia and Rose D’Or international honours. Since then she’s headed up TRCmedia’s flagship International Development Programme for independent producers and film makers, regularly leading delegations to Toronto, New York, Washington DC and Los Angeles, and for the past three years has been Creative Industry Director at the screen agency for the north east, Northern Film & Media, where she led the creative team, brokering important new relationships and partnerships, notably devising and developing innovative co-projects with the BBC, Channel 4 and the Arts Council, as well as heading up the ground breaking £4.8m creative content co investment fund for Northern Film & Media.

Agnes is currently on the Board of the distinguished international arts organisation ISIS, has served as Observer on the Tyneside Cinema Board, is a long standing judging member of the British Academy of Film & Television Arts and is currently Chair of Judges of the Royal Television Society NE & Border Centre Awards.