A KEY player in Tyneside's failed Capital of Culture bid is leaving the region.
Paul Collard is stepping down from his post with the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative (NGI) to become national director for Creative Partnerships, run by the Arts Council.
He joined NGI when it was set up in 2001 to spearhead the campaign to win European Capital of Culture 2008.
After losing out to Liverpool, he became creative director of NGI's culture10 programme, which aims to deliver a decade of world class cultural events for Tyneside.
Mr Collard said: "With the partnership and funding confirmed for the next few years, exciting projects now under development and a renewed sense of confidence across the region, that challenge has been met."
Creative Partnerships is a Government-funded scheme that gives children in deprived areas the opportunity to develop creativity and take part in cultural activities.
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