STA, 7 December 2020 - Robert Simonišek has been appointed acting director of the Museum of Modern Art for the period from 23 December until the end of the latest open call for the post of director, the museum, currently run by acting head Zdenka Badovinac, confirmed for the STA on Monday. The Culture Ministry published on Friday a third iteration of the public call.
The latest public call will wrap up on 18 December and was published only a day after the government adopted a decree amending the museum's articles of association.
The step softened candidate selection criteria. Prior to the changes, candidates eligible to be appointed had to have at least five years of work experience related to the institution's field of expertise.
Under the decree, it is sufficient now that a candidate has five years of leadership experience at the minimum and that they are familiar with the museum's work.
Experts in art history and fine arts expressed concern in late October because of a long-standing procedure of appointing a new director at the helm of the museum and the ministry's intention to amend the articles of association.
Robert Simonišek was born in Celje in 1977. He initially established himself as a poet and critic, and later as an author and art historian.
He graduated in philosophy and art history and obtained a PhD on the subject of fin de siecle art. This year, he was appointed a member of the Prešeren Fund management board.
