Economist Rösel appointed to head National Gallery

Economist Vladimír Rösel has been appointed to head the National Gallery, Minister of Culture Jiří Besser has announced. He will take office on June 1. Mr Besser said that he and the selection committee had chosen someone who was able to take the institution in a new direction. He team, the minister said, had put together by far the most comprehensive concept for developing the National Gallery and opening it up to the world. The ten-member committee reportedly weighed five candidates to replace the outgoing director, well-known public figure Milan Knížák.