Aratoi search for director over

A highly qualified art and museum curator with wide international experience has been appointed director of Aratoi, Masterton.

Alice Hutchison, who was for five years curator and assistant director of the Ace Gallery in Los Angeles, will take up the position in early September.

For the past six years she has worked as a researcher for the Venice Biennale and with the Getty Foundation and, according to Aratoi board chair Frazer Mailman is keen to return to New Zealand.

She has previously worked for TeManawa Museum Trust, once known as Manawatu Art Gallery, as manager of art and while there partnered in two exhibitions at Aratoi including Ben Cauchi's Smoke and Mirrors.

In 2007 she curated Aniwaniwa, the New Zealand selection for the Venice Biennale, which is regarded as the most prestigious contemporary art exhibition in the world.

Ms Hutchison raised money to support large-scale sculptural video presentations by leading Maori artists Rachael Rakena and Brett Graham.

Ms Hutchison fills the position of director made vacant with the departure of Marcus Boroughs last August and who is now head of public programmes at Auckland Museum.

In the intervening period Robin Dunlop has been interim director and Mr Mailman said the board wanted to put on record its appreciation of the work he had done.

"His work ethic, experience and management capability have been most appreciated by staff and the board," he said.