A familiar face to the local arts scene has been appointed to the role of Hawke's Bay Opera House and arts precinct manager – Megan Peacock Coyle.
Peacock Coyle was born and raised in Hawke's Bay, is currently manager of Baycourt Community & Arts Centre Tauranga and was manager of the Oamaru Opera House prior to this.
She has a long association with the Hawke's Bay Opera House, going back to her days as a student when the EIT Drama School was based there.
Peacock Coyle then went on to be a part-time tutor for the school before taking a role as the Opera House technical and operations co-ordinator and later the arts and programming manager.
"I truly believe that arts and culture in any region can be responsible for helping to build community identity and pride which in turn leads to positive community norms, such as diversity, tolerance and free expression, which ultimately leads to a progressive and balanced society," she said.