After almost four exciting and rewarding years, Honor Harger, Director of the AV Festivaland Audio Visual Arts North East, has decided to stand down.

Having established AV as one of the leading electronic festivals in Europe, and secured it as one of Arts Council England's regularly funded organisations thereby providing financial stability and longevity, she feels that it is time for a full time Director to lead the festival into a bold new era.

AV Festival is an international biennial festival of electronic arts, and features visual art, music and moving image.

Honor Harger says:

"It has been an amazing journey for us all. The festival has developed from a pilot project to a regular biennial event of international standing and is in a uniquely strong position to continue to grow and prosper.

With three great festivals behind it the AV Festival now has a fantastic network of collaborators across the North East region, and around the world.

The AV Festival has a brilliant future and it has been a hugely difficult decision for me but I feel that it?s time for me to hand the baton to a new Director with fresh ideas."

Mark Dobson, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the AV Festival says:

"We are delighted with how Honor has developed the festival over the last few years in securing its future financially and its reputation as one of the most ambitious electronic arts festival?s in the UK.

Although we are sad to see her go, we would like to thank her for the work she has done and totally support her decision to move on.

Over the next few months, we will be to mapping out the shape of the future for the AV Festival and looking to recruit an inspirational new leader to help us chart out new territories."

Honor Harger will be continuing her PhD research into radio astronomy and art in Switzerland.