Premier Peter Beattie announced the appointment of Tony Ellwood as the new Director of the Queensland Art Gallery.

Mr Beattie said Mr Ellwood, currently Deputy Director at the National Gallery of Victoria, is a highly experienced art museum director with a notable national and international reputation.

"Mr Ellwood has a strong track record of management within the National Gallery and its multiple sites and he's built a reputation for delivering innovative exhibitions and significant acquisitions," Mr Beattie said

"He was the outstanding contender for the position."

"His proven capabilities, enormous experience and international network will be invaluable to the ongoing success of the Queensland Art Gallery, including the new Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)."

Mr Beattie said a key criterion for the selection panel was to ensure the successful candidate would maintain the Gallery's momentum - momentum due in no small part to the efforts of former Director Doug Hall during his 20-year leadership.

"Today the Gallery is an accessible and popular art museum and I have every confidence that Mr Ellwood will lead the Gallery into its next exciting era," he said.

The position had drawn a high-quality selection of candidates from throughout Australia and overseas

The selection panel was made up of Gallery Board of Trustees Chair Wayne Goss; Deputy Chair Ann Gamble Myer; University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay AC; and New South Wales Art Gallery Director Edmond Capon.

Tony Ellwood has been the Deputy Director of the National Gallery of Victoria since 2000 with a focus on international art, education and public programs. He served as Director of the Bendigo Art Gallery from 1996 to 1999, increasing audiences by 300 per cent. In the early 1990s he was Director of Waringarri Aboriginal Arts co-operative in Western Australia, helping to managing the careers of over 50 Indigenous artists.

He holds a Masters Degree and Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies from Deakin University in Melbourne.

Tony Ellwood's five-year contract with the Gallery is expected to begin in July.

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