A NEW chief executive has been announced for York Museums Trust, who will take over when Janet Barnes retires after 13 years at the helm.

Reyahn King, 50, the head of heritage lottery fund West Midlands, who has also worked as the director of art galleries at National Museums Liverpool and head of exhibitions and interpretation at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, will take up the reins in November but start as chief executive designate in September.

The trust looks after the Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum and Gardens, York St Mary’s and York Art Gallery, which reopens on August 1 after an £8 million re-development.

Ms King said she was 'thrilled' to be coming to the beautiful city as chief executive of the trust, which looks after York Castle Museum, the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens, York St Mary’s and York Art Gallery, which reopens on August 1 after an £8 million re-development.

She said: "Dr Janet Barnes’ leadership has ensured I inherit a mature, successful organisation ready for new challenges after the completion of York Art Gallery’s renovation.

" I look forward to working with trustees, staff and volunteers to create engaging and exciting visitor experiences and to develop a high profile exhibitions programme that will attract audiences from far and wide.”

Professor Sir John Lawton, chairman of the trustees, said he was delighted she had accepted the new role.

"She brings with her strategic and operational experience at significant regional and national institutions as well as a track record of delivering a wide range of major events and exhibitions," he said.

"We look forward to working with her to enable the Trust to build on its previous successes and to ensure we continue to be one of the most dynamic and forward thinking cultural organisations in the country.”

Dr Barnes revealed last month that admission charges were to be introduced for the art gallery when it re-opens, following a £500,000 cut in the trust's grant from City of York Council.

She said there would have to be some 'meaningful conversations' with whoever won the council elections.

Leading politicians from all parties said during the election campaign that they would try to ensure York residents were spared such charges.