FIONA Helleur, who has run the Manx National Youth Theatre for 16 years, will oversee the transformation of Douglas Youth Centre in Kensington Road into the first arts hub for young people.
Fiona's post is not a new one as the Youth Service has always had a youth worker running the centre.
But in giving her the title Head of Youth Arts the service is demonstrating its commitment to developing this area.
Principal youth officer Ken Callister said: "Whether it be playing an instrument, acting, dancing or creative work, young people take their art seriously and want to develop or improve their skills. It is also a great way of building confidence and self-esteem.
"Our existing arts projects – including Soundcheck for up and coming bands, the MNYT, DanceXchange, digital arts, films and the shows we stage at the Gaiety – are going from strength to strength.
"But young people are asking for more chances to take part in the arts and we want to meet the demand.
"Youth arts has got some way to go before it gets the resources and recognition youth sports enjoy and yet a significant number of young people participate.
"Designating Fiona specifically as Head of Youth Arts is a statement that the Youth Service values the arts and is committed to developing them.
"Our intention is to develop Douglas Youth Centre, which is already home to numerous projects, into a youth arts hub that will give young artists a proper home."
Fiona has worked at Ballakermeen and Queen Elizabeth II high schools while also being youth worker in charge of the MNYT in the evenings and at weekends.
After its highly acclaimed performance at the Shakespeare Schools Festival the previous year, Fiona was invited to lead the MNYT to London in May 2009 to perform on the London Eye for the launch of that year's festival.
Fiona will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the youth centre and for creating a programme of arts events throughout the Island for young people.
She said: "We aim to create a space where young people can work on their performing and visual arts skills out of school hours, in the evenings, at weekends and during the holidays when there is a real need for a space suitable for creativity.
"I will be working closely with performing arts clubs already in existence including youth Shakespeare, sound and lighting and circus skills groups, and we will also be starting Banghra dance, filmmaking and visual art clubs.
"It's an exciting time and we are looking forwards to the challenge of turning this venerable old building – part of which was the old Douglas Art School – into a performing arts centre worthy of the young people of the Isle of Man.
"We will also shortly be unveiling some exciting sponsorship opportunities for supporters of young people and arts in the Island to help us achieve our goals."
