NO STRANGER to the halls of Artspace, Mackay artist Tracey Heathwood has been announced as the centre's new director.

She will be the sixth director for Artspace Mackay after recent director Julie Skate left to take up a position of chief executive officer at Canberrra Glassworks.

The passionate advocate for the arts and community engagement has recently spent two months acting in the role and is excited to officially take the reins.

"It is absolutely thrilling to be in the director's role in my home town, doing what I love in the place that I live and the place that I love,” Ms Heathwood said.

"The job was advertised nationally and so I was really happy to compete on that national level for this position.

"I've had a long association with Artspace Mackay, I first started as an education officer here at the gallery back in 2001 so I've kind of grown up with Artspace Mackay.”

In her new position, Ms Heathwood plans to bring more exhibitions and workshops to the Mackay gallery.

"It (Artspace Mackay) has evolved over the 15+ years it has been open,” Ms Heathwood said.

"I have built some really strong relationships and connections with our local arts community so I am certainly looking forward to showing both works from here and other regions.

"I'm also looking forward to providing visitors with a bit of a taste of what it means to live in our region.

"I'm really focused on delivering a high quality regional gallery for Mackay and I believe that I bring a great deal of knowledge about what it means to be from Mackay and live in Mackay and what it means to practise art here.”

She is excited to work with her team at Artspace and the community to continue to improve the facility.

"I'm really lucky to have a really dedicated, passionate and experienced team behind me and that makes a really big difference especially when you are stepping into a new role,” Ms Heathwood said.

"I like that idea of consulting and being quite participative both with my staff and with the community at large.”

The talented print maker has always had a passion for art and went on to study at the Queensland College of Art after finishing school.

"I was just one of those kids who use to dig clay out from the farm and I made things as often as I could,” she said.

"All through high school I was really determined that this was going to be my career. I've been working in the arts industry for over 20 years now in different positions.”

Ms Heathwood encourages everyone to take the time to visit Artspace Mackay as they offer a range of exhibitions throughout the year as well as interactive activities.