Former CHOGM task force head Phyllis Muscat has been appointed chairman of the newly-established contemporary art museum.

Her one-year appointment by the Justice Ministry, which is effective from March 29, was announced last Friday in the Malta Government Gazette.

Ms Muscat, who owns a business specialising in the retail of cosmetic products, is widely known to have close links with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and worked behind the scenes in the coordination of the Labour Party 2013 election campaign.

Less than three months after Labour came to power, she was appointed head of the coordinating board for cultural projects, which had been just set up.

That same year, Ms Muscat landed another government job, this time as head of a task force overseeing the 2015 Commonwealth Head of Governments Meeting. Her appointment had raised eyebrows due to her lack of diplomatic experience.

Three years down the line, Ms Muscat has been appointed chair of the Malta International Contemporary Art Space. It is not known whether the post was filled following a public call.

According to the website, which is still under construction, the new entity aspires to “become a beacon in the Mediterranean for the contemporary visual arts”.

Its premises are at the Ospizio in Floriana.

The members of the board are Georgina Portelli, Claire Cassar, Francis Sultana and Angela Attard Fenech.