Niels Van Tomme Appointed Director of de Appel in Amsterdam

Niels Van Tomme has been named the new director of de Appel, Amsterdam's experimental contemporary art space, succeeding Lorenzo Benedetti. The Belgian curator, born in 1977, takes over after Benedetti's dismissal last autumn 2015 due to policy disagreements with CEO Alexandra van Huffelen. Benedetti, an Italian-Dutch curator, had served as artistic director for about fifteen months and previously directed Vleeshal in Middelburg (2008) and curated the Dutch Pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale with Mark Manders. Van Tomme, a researcher, critic, and curator with international experience, has presented projects at The Kitchen (New York), Värmlands Museum (Karlstad), National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC), Contemporary Arts Center (New Orleans), Gallery 400 (Chicago), and Akademie der Künste (Berlin). He is a recipient of an award from the Andy Warhol Foundation and has published books and essays across Europe. Despite his credentials, the appointment remains controversial due to the harsh treatment of Benedetti.