Tony Ellwood jumps ship to take helm at National Gallery of Victoria

VICTORIAN premier Ted Baillieu will tomorrow announce Tony Ellwood's appointment as director of the National Gallery of Victoria.

VICTORIAN premier Ted Baillieu will tomorrow announce Tony Ellwood's appointment as director of the National Gallery of Victoria, replacing Gerard Vaughan.

Ellwood is the NGV's former deputy director, who for the past five years has led Brisbane's Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, the twin institution which has grown to be the nation's most popular.

QAG and GOMA are frequently cited by the Bligh government as the jewels in the crown of Queensland arts and emblematic of the state's aspirations for greater cultural activity.

Last November, Queensland Arts Minister Rachel Nolan was quick to shore up a second five-year term from Ellwood as speculation about him replacing Vaughan reached fever pitch.

Now, just over three weeks from the Queensland election, Ellwood will break his contract with the government to take on what is considered the most difficult and most prestigious gallery directorship in the nation.