Maria Balshaw is set to succeed Nicholas Serota as director of the Tate galleries, making her the first woman to take the role leading the organisation.
Maria Balshaw, who is currently the head of Manchester's Whitworth Art Gallery, has been the frontrunner for the Tate director role after Serota announced in September last year that he was to step down after 28 years.
According to the Guardian, Tate trustees have proposed Balshaw ? who also heads up the University of Manchester and Manchester City Galleries ? to UK prime minister Theresa May. But the decision is awaiting final approval before an official announcement can be made.

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If appointed, Balshaw will be the first woman to take on this leading role, which would encompass the Tate Modern and Tate Britain in London, as well as Tate St Ives and Tate Liverpool.
Balshaw has been pivotal in the development of Manchester's arts and culture activities. As director of The Whitworth gallery since June 2006, she oversaw its £15 million renovation and expansion by MUMA in 2015.
In 2011 she was appointed director of Manchester City Galleries, which partners the University of Manchester and Manchester City Council for joint exhibition projects.
Manchester's Whitworth gallery was extended by MUMA under Balshaw's leadership
She has also served as the Director of Culture for Manchester ...