Boston City Councillor John M. Tobin, Jr. yesterday was officially appointed as the City Council’s Vice President and was tapped to head the committee on Intergovernmental Relations. He was also renamed Chair of the Committee on Arts, Film, Humanities & Tourism, a post he has held since 2002.

Councillor Tobin’s appointments were announced by City Council President Maureen Feeney at the council’s weekly meeting on Wednesday, January 31. He was also named Vice Chair of the Committees on Education and Rules.

“I am honored to be chosen to serve as the City Council’s Vice President and I look forward to working with Councilor Feeney this year,” said Councilor Tobin. “I am also thrilled to again serve as the Chair of the Arts Committee and I am excited about continuing to work on behalf of the city’s arts and cultural community.”

As Chair of the City Council’s Arts Committee, Councillor Tobin has fought to restore funding to the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events and has initiated innovative ways to enhance the arts citywide.

Most recently, Councillor Tobin, who represents West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and parts of Roslindale and Mission Hill, filed an order with the City Council calling for the appointment of an official city poet laureate who would record major events and commemorate moments in the city’s history through poetry.

Councillor Tobin also continues to be a strong proponent of resurrecting the city’s Film Bureau arguing that the movie industry creates jobs, generates revenue, and showcases the city to the world. He sponsors an annual art contest challenging Boston students to design his holiday greeting card and proposed the “Boston Walk of Fame” as a way to promote tourism and honor local people who have made a lasting contribution to the arts. He also currently serves on the board of the Boston Children’s Theatre.