On Friday, the Maine Arts Commission appointed Donna McNeil of Portland as its next director.

McNeil joined the arts commission in 2003 as Percent for Art coordinator. She came to Maine in 1990 and has worked as assistant to the director of the Joan Whitney Payson Gallery of Art and executive director of Ram Island Dance Company. She holds a bachelor’s degree in painting from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in art history from Harvard University. She has served as assistant director to Alden Wilson since last November.

Arts commission chairman John Rohman of Bangor said McNeil’s “fire in the belly” for the arts as well as her proven expertise make her the most qualified candidate for the position. The move sets into motion a long-range succession plan for the commission. A North America-wide search for an assistant director will begin shortly.