On September 8, the Cultural Manager and former General Coordinator of Matadero Madrid, Pablo Berástegui-Lozano (Pamplona, 1968), was appointed the new director of the Fundación San Sebastián 2016. He was selected from a group of 41 candidates that participated in the public call to be at the helm of the directorship of the project by the European Capital of Culture for 2016. The board of the Fundación of the project by the European Capital of Culture, formed by representatives of the local government of San Sebastián, the provincial council of Gipuzkoa, the Basque government and the Ministry of Culure, unanimously chose Berástegui. A representative of San Sebastián 2016 emphasized the professionalism of the new director: "Lastly, his professional trajectory in cultural and creative environments both at the national and international levels, was crucial to determine his election." Likewise, in an official statement the foundation said that Berástegui "demonstrates a commitment to the values of the project, which are culture, participation, peace and coexistence." The new director will take office following the resignation of Itziar Nogeras in April, who left the post nine months after her controversial appointment created the most serious crisis experienced by the European Capital of Culture. As result, in an emergency meeting the board had no option but to temporally appoint Xabier Paya, who until then served as the Cultural Project Coordinator. Paya said that he accepted provided that it was not for more than six months. Besides being in charge of Matadero Madrid between 2008 and 2012, Berástegui was also director from 2002 to 2006 of the photography festival PHotoEspaña and of four editions of La Noche en Blanco.