A MARKETING and arts professional will return to Salisbury to take on a new role at the heart of entertainment in the city.

Sara Lock has been appointed as the new director of audiences for Wiltshire Creative, and is set to take up the role in February.

She is currently head of arts marketing communication at the University of Southampton, where she has been involved in leading strategy, brand and website projects.

However, the new role will mark a return to Wiltshire Creative for Sara, who previously held the position of marketing and development manager and deputy director of Salisbury Arts Centre between 2010 and 2015.

“I am excited to return to Salisbury: Wiltshire Creative’s work in enriching the lives of audiences of all ages makes it an organisation very close to my heart,” she said.

“I cannot wait to reconnect with audiences in Salisbury and welcome more people to experience the city’s vibrant cultural offer.”

Wiltshire Creative’s artistic director, Gareth Machin, and executive director Rosa Corbishley added: “We are delighted Sara is joining the team here at Wiltshire Creative. Her exemplary record in connecting audiences to transformational cultural activity made her a standout candidate.

“Sara’s energy and enthusiasm will bring a fresh and exciting vision to our engagement with the community in Salisbury and beyond.”

Most recently, in her role at the University of Southampton, Sara headed initiatives bringing new audiences to the main live music venue Turner Sims, a venue pivotal in Southampton and the region’s cultural scene.

Prior to her university work, she was head of communications and business development for Energise Me, where she assisted in securing funding of £1 million to establish a Creative People and Places programme in the New Forest; a programme inspiring and enabling community to create their own artistic opportunities.

And prior to that, Sara held roles at Lighthouse in Poole and the Arts Marketing Association, enabling her to develop resources to grow the cultural sector.

Sara is also a trustee of Sound UK, a charity producing extraordinary musical encounters for all.