AUSTRALIAN Jo Shore has been appointed as director of Salisbury Festival and hopes to "enliven and invigorate Salisbury audiences".

She takes over from Trevor Davies, who, after his four-year term, has moved to Norwich to run a writing partnership.

Ms Shore (34) has been with Perth International Arts Festival since 1999. Initially she was an artistic programmer, but since 2003 she has been producer in charge of contemporary culture and film manager. Prior to that she was publicist and event manager with the Western Australia Fringe Festival and worked in the music, fashion and arts industry in London between 1990 and 1997, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts.

For the past seven years, Jo Shore has concentrated on bringing international contemporary culture, such as music, film and photography, to Western Australia.

Jo takes up office next month. Next year's Festival will run from May 27 to June 12.