A UNIVERSITY professor and former director of Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery has been appointed the new head of humanities and creative arts at the University of Worcester.

Professor Antonia Payne joins the university as head of institute from her former post as dean of research at the world-renowned Dartington College of Arts in Devon.

As director of the Arts Council-funded Ikon Gallery during the 1980s Ms Payne was responsible for the gallery’s artistic programming and strategic and financial management for more than nine years.

In the 1990s she pursued a successful freelance career as a contemporary art curator, writer, researcher and visual arts consultant and worked with clients such as the Tate, Arts Council England, English Heritage, the British Council and many more.

Alongside, she spent six years as a founding-contributor to the laboratory, the acclaimed research unit of the Ruskin School of drawing and fine art at the University of Oxford.

From 2001 to 2005 she was associate dean, and then acting dean in the school of art and design at the University of Wolverhampton.

As well as being appointed head of the institute of humanities and creative arts Ms Payne joins the university as professor of visual arts.

University of Worcester vice chancellor professor David Green said: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Payne to the University of Worcester.

“She has an outstanding track record in creative arts and in higher education.

“The university has a strong focus on the performing and creative arts and so Antonia’s expertise will prove invaluable in leading our vibrant arts and humanities programme.”