diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 2288a476..ae2d4f48 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 Changes
 =======
 
+In next release ...
+
+-
+
+
 4.4.3 (2023-12-30)
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 4afaaaa6..8e5b73dd 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-__version__ = '4.4.3'
+__version__ = '4.5.0-dev'
 
 import os