Last month a 10-strong French delegation has met the Tourism Development & Investment Company in Abu Dhabi to discuss the management strategy of the Louvre Abu Dhabi planned for 2012. The delegation included high officials from the French Embassy in UAE, the Cultural Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as representatives from the top museums (Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Musée du Quai Branly) and the National Library.

 

Earlier this year France and Abu Dhabi had agreed on the construction of a 24.000 m² big Louvre Museum in the Emirate. 6.000 m² are scheduled for permanent exhibitions, 2.000 m² for temporary shows. The agreement stipulates France to support Abu Dhabi with its expertise in museum affairs and to place parts of its collections at the latter’s disposal – at least for a certain time. Furthermore it will assist the Emirate in developing educational programmes and organising expert conferences. According to former French Minister of Culture Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, the museum “is designed to foster cultural dialogue between East and West”.

 

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is only one of numerous cultural and artistic establishments planned within the future cultural district Saadiyat Island, such as a Guggenheim Modern, a Contemporary Arts Museum, a Maritime Museum and a performing arts centre. The French government’s decision to “sell the label Louvre” caused a storm of protest among intellectuals and people involved in culture.

 

Source: Arabian Business, August 7^th 2007