Professor West will take up this post at the AHRC on May 1st 2008 and the AHRC Chief Executive Professor Philip Esler said of the appointment "It is with great pleasure that we welcome Professor West to the AHRC. We are very fortunate to be joined by someone with such impressive academic achievements and strong leadership skills in this key role for the Council."

Professor West is Professor of Art History, Head of the School of Historical Studies and acting Head of the College of Arts and Law at the University of Birmingham, and is the author of a number of books and articles on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British, Italian and German art.

Prior to this appointment Shearer has represented the UK arts and humanities community at the AHRC as a panel chair and as a member of the 2008 RAE panel.

Professor West said 'I passionately believe that the arts and humanities enhance the quality of life, provide an invaluable dimension to higher education, and benefit both society and the economy. I am looking forward to working with the AHRC and colleagues throughout the UK to help shape and develop our already distinctive and world class research culture.'

ENDS

Media enquiries to:

Jake Gilmore, AHRC Communications Manager. Tel: 0117 987 6773 or    e-mail: j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk.

Editors Notes:

Arts and Humanities Research Council - Each year the AHRC provides approximately £90 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from archaeology and English literature to design and dance. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,500 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. Arts and humanities researchers constitute nearly a quarter of all research-active staff in the higher education sector. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.