Jacqui Ibbotson has been named the new arts and learning coordinator for Oxford Inspires, the cultural development agency for Oxford and Oxfordshire.

A former employee of the English National Opera and Royal Shakespeare Company, Ms Ibbotson, 43, will be partly responsible for organising the county's millennium celebrations next year but primarily involved with encouraging grassroots participation in the arts.

She is also charged with expanding interest in the arts, providing advice and support to local arts organisations and helping to create better relationships between arts organisations and Oxfordshire's schools.

One of the biggest events for Oxford Inspires is Oxfordshire 2007, a year-long series of festivals and events showcasing the best of the county's performing arts scene.

Ms Ibbotson said: "I'm delighted at this opportunity to work with artists, communities and schools in Oxfordshire.

"I believe it's vitally important to take art out of the galleries and into the streets, where everyone can access and enjoy it.

"Oxfordshire 2007 will be a great opportunity to bring new partners together and be enriched by the creative events and activities which will be on offer as a result."

Ms Ibbotson oversaw the transformation of the Camberwell Arts Festival from a series of gallery exhibitions known as Artsweek to a full blown festival for the whole family in partnership with Camberwell College of Arts.

Meanwhile, the search continues for a chief executive at Oxford Inspires following Robert Hutchison's departure from the cultural development agency after three-and-a-half years.

The job has been advertised nationally at £49,000.

Mr Hutchison, a former head of Southern Arts, originally came to Oxford to lead the city's unsuccessful bid to become the 2008 European Capital of Culture, but was persuaded to stay to head Oxford Inspires in its fundraising and marketing work for arts events.