Curator Catherine David has been appointed as the next deputy director of the Musée National d’Art Moderne at the Centre Pompidou, reports Art Forum via Le Monde. Formerly curator at the National Gallery at the Jeu de Paume in Paris, chief curator of theMusées de France, and artistic director of the 1997 Documenta, David will have a large range of experience to pull from in her new position. Her interest in Middle Eastern art led her to take on positions as commissioner of the 2009 Abu Dhabi pavilion at the Venice Biennale and as head of project “Représentations Arabes Contemporains.” David, who replaces Catherine Grenier, has been tasked with dealing with issues of globalization and the museum in her new role.

Last October, the Pompidou abandoned its mobile museum project in France, to launch a temporary exhibition in the Saudi city of Dhahran with plans to present more shows in the area. The Pompidou is also currently involved in plans to build a joint arts complex with the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture, which is intended to be the major cultural center of Dhahran. No doubt David will be involved with these projects.