An inclusive arts charity has appointed Chris Farrell as its chief executive, after the organisation’s founder announced plans to step down.

Farrell will join Accessible Arts & Media, an inclusive York-based creative charity supporting nearly 500 people each year, in April.

He takes up the reins from Rose Kent, who co-founded the charity in 1992 and is stepping down after 32 years at its helm. The charity said she was taking time to explore her next steps.

In a post on LinkedIn, Kent said it was “time to step down and let a new, ambitious leader steer Accessible Arts & Media into its next chapter”.

Farrell joins the organisation from Age UK York, having worked as a freelance consultant for charity clients since November 2022.

Before freelancing, he was the director of service delivery and development at the charity Day One Trauma Support between July 2021 and November 2022. He was deputy director of service delivery and partnerships at Teenage Cancer Trust between 2020 and 2021 and was chief executive of Cavendish Cancer Care between 2014 and 2019.

Farrell, who is also a musician, said: “I first shared a stage with Accessible Arts & Media almost a decade ago, so I’ve known for many years the difference the organisation makes for participants and for the wider community. 

“It’s a pretty big task to try and fill Rose’s boots, but I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to steer the charity into its next chapter and, with your support, I know we can do some pretty amazing things.”

Lucy Galliard, chair of Accessible Arts & Media, said: “Rose has been the powerhouse behind AAM for over three decades. Her achievements are huge, as has been the effort, attention and – most importantly – love that she has put into the organisation.”

Galliard said of Farrell: “From a strong field of candidates, Chris stood out as a top-quality candidate with the perfect balance of strategic and leadership skills, and a true understanding of what we do and why it’s needed.”