A MAN who helped bring the Angel of the North to Tyneside has been appointed chairman of Northern Arts, and the North-East's voice on the London-based Arts Council.

Paul Collard, a father-of-four from Barrasford, near Hexham, Northumberland, is currently head of programme development for the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, which is attempting to win the European City of Culture 2008 title.

This follows his return from the US, last year, where he organised a high-profile festival for arts and ideas in New Haven, Connecticut, which was linked to Yale University.

He said: "The first time I was in the region I was asked, 'What has culture got to do with the North-East?' When I came back in 2000, nobody asked me that.

"The Angel has completely repositioned the way people in the North think about themselves. The pride they now have isn't because they've suddenly become terribly fond of neo-brutalist, steel sculptures - it's because they know it symbolises a region at the cutting edge and with a future."

Mr Collard, who once organised conferences for the Aga Khan, is confident the arts vibrancy of the region will support his role in London and ensure Tyneside's City of Culture bid is ultimately successful next year.

Andrew Dixon, regional executive director of Northern Arts, said; "Paul Collard is a great champion for the arts and the Northern region. His appointment will be widely welcomed by artists and arts organisations in the region."

l The new-look Northern Arts regional council, which is being assembled, will consist of six local authority members and eight people from the arts, education and business.