The search for a new director to head the Dunedin Public Art Gallery has attracted international interest from candidates as far afield as Europe.
Dunedin City Council staff yesterday confirmed 16 candidates had put their names forward by the time applications closed at 5pm on Friday.
Most of the applications had come from Dunedin or New Zealand, and included some established gallery directors, council city strategy and development general manager Dr Sue Bidrose said.
However, a "small number" of applications had also arrived from abroad, including from Europe.
Dr Bidrose was "really, really pleased" with the "good level of interest" and the high calibre of candidates, 10 of who were considered to have the necessary experience.
"I wasn't expecting to get applications from Europe, but it is a prestigious art gallery ... and so from that point of view I'm not surprised that we have some applications from some people who are managing other good art galleries."
The search began after DPAG director Elizabeth Caldwell confirmed in April she planned to take a new role as director of City Gallery Wellington, beginning in July, after a three-year stint in her Dunedin role. Her last day at the DPAG is June 22.
Dr Bidrose said she hoped to have "a sense" of who would replace Ms Caldwell by that date.
Dr Bidrose planned to meet DPAG Society president Ross Grimmett later this week to confirm a shortlist of candidates.
The pair would then recruit another major gallery director, and possibly two, to assist on an interview panel, she said.
Interviews were expected to take place in the next few weeks, and the new director's appointment would be confirmed "ideally by the end of the month", Dr Bidrose said.
A notice period meant the successful candidate might not begin work until a month later.
Dr Bidrose said Ms Caldwell had done a "fantastic" job, and she was not looking for any dramatic change of direction at the gallery, "but I think every art gallery director has a leaning and an interest".
