The search for the next chief executive officer of the Mendel Art Gallery and the future Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan is getting national and international interest.

A recent call for applications for the position has been posted locally, nationally and internationally and Jason Aebig, board chair of the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan said they have had a number of candidates already apply.

“We’ve had very strong interest,” said Aebig. “It’s been very, very encouraging.”

He continued, “The candidates who have applied to us are on a real spectrum of qualifications and competencies, so we’re taking the time to sift through those applications … I’m fairly confident that we’ll have our CEO in place fairly soon.”

Aebig explained they’re looking for a leader who can expand the gallery’s reach in the province, across the country and around the world.

“Our goal is not just to be a terrific local or regional gallery, we have ambitions to be much bigger than that,” he said. “We want to build a brand and reputation in national and international circles and we’re going to need leadership who can help get us there.”

Qualifications for the position include five to 10-years of experience as a senior manager at an arts institution, in-depth knowledge of Canadian art and the highest level of personal integrity, ethics and accountability.

Applications close Nov. 2.