Dr Gosse joined Sheffield City Council to take up the new post of Director of Culture in 2006 to oversee the council's culture service, which includes leisure facilities, arts, libraries, theatres and museums.

Since then the cultural infrastructure of the city has increased and the facilities and performance of culture and sport improved with Dr Gosse the driving force behind new projects such as Galvanize and the Great Yorkshire Run.

After the first Galvanize Sheffield: Festival of Contemporary Metal Design and Innovation last November, plans are well ahead for this year's event. Aimed at sparking new interest in contemporary metal design while celebrating the city's heritage in metalwork industry, it was very much a pet project of the culture director who was a silversmith before going into local government.

One of Dr Gosse's visions was to establish Sheffield as a European city of culture and she sowed the seeds with a strategy paper which was presented to politicians and the business community.

Originally from Castleton, near Whitby, she said this week: "It has been a real delight to work and live in Sheffield. The people and the culture are everything they promised to be; warm, friendly and inspiring.

"I have enjoyed working with businesses, universities, communities and the cultural organisations to improve the culture and sports facilities, create new festivals and events and raise the profile of the city. I believe that a greater number of organisations and individuals recognise the economic and social benefits of culture and sport. I know that Sheffield now has a growing national reputation as a cultural leader."

John Mothersole, Interim Chief Executive at Sheffield City Counci, said: "Ann has played a major role in both the council and the city. I'd like to wish her well in her new role at Barnsley, I'm sure she'll be a great success."