A NORTH-EAST arts venue last night announced the appointment of a new director.

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, in Gateshead, confirmed that American Peter Doroshenko will fill the £75,000 post.

Mr Doroshenko was, until recently, director of Belgium's largest contemporary art gallery, the Stedelijk Museum Voor Actuele Kunst.

Originally from Chicago, he had previously served as director of Visual Arts at the University of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, and as senior curator at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston, Texas.

Baltic chairman Sir Ian Wrigglesworth said: "I am delighted we have been able to appoint someone with such a distinguished background and excellent qualifications to the post."

Mr Doroshenko said: "I am excited and proud to be offered this opportunity to continue to develop Baltic's unique activities."

The Baltic has been run by acting director Andrew Lovett since August.