PORT TOWNSEND — New stars are shining at Centrum after officials at the Fort Worden-based arts and education foundation named artistic directors for two of its major programs.

Rebecca Brown was named artistic director for the annual Writers Conference, while John Clayton will lead Centrum’s Jazz Workshop and Jazz Port Townsend.

“We are clarifying and building upon what Centrum does best — promoting creative experiences that change lives,” said Centrum Executive Director Thatcher Bailey in announcing the two appointments Thursday.

Brown and Clayton are the first of a new slate of artistic directors at Centrum.

“To remain creatively vital and financially stable, we must be open to and, in fact, seek out new ideas, new voices and new perspectives,” Bailey said.

The decision to change artistic directors earlier in the summer caused some discord, particularly among creative participants in Centrum events.