Hexham Book Festival has announced two new appointments.

Olivia Chapman will become interim creative director, while Sarah Davy has been appointed youth engagement manager.

The appointments come following the April/May event earlier this year.

It received funding from Arts Council England and the Gillian Dickinson Trust to develop the festival, its county-wide programme for young people, and its family offerings in the coming years.

Susie Troup, the festival's founder director who started the festival in 2006, will gradually transition into a strategic consultant role.

Susie Troup, founder director of Hexham Book Festival (Image: Supplied) Gil Pugh, festival manager and Nessie Wise, marketing and communications assistant, will remain in their roles.

Olivia Chapman, who will begin her role as interim creative director this month, will oversee programming, artist liaison, and organisational development for the festival.

She has experience in book festivals nationwide, having worked on Women's Prize LIVE, Birmingham Literature Festival, Durham Book Festival, and BBC Contains Strong Language Festival.

Olivia Chapman will begin her role as interim creative director this month (Image: Paul Stringer) Sarah Davy, previously the young people's programmer with Hexham Book Festival, will assume the role of youth engagement manager from this month.

Her role will involve extending the provision of literature development activity in schools, libraries, and community hubs across Northumberland, as well as programming the Schools Festival and Family Day.

Ms Troup, founder director, said: "I am delighted that the festival that started as a germ of an idea in 2005, has now attained the national status it deserves and, thanks to the generous support of funders, has an exciting future ahead.

Sarah Davy will become youth engagement manager this month (Image: Supplied) "It is especially gratifying that, as a result of new investment, the work with young people already supported by Northumberland County Council can continue to expand and thrive and reach more children and young people in the years to come.

"While I will be taking a back seat in the coming months, I plan to still be involved with HBF in a supportive role.

"I am especially pleased to welcome the new additions of Liv and Sarah to the team who will be working closely with Gil Pugh."

Hexham Book Festival will return in 2025 from May 2 to May 11.