UAE | Heritage and Culture

French cultural agency to steer work on Louvre Abu Dhabi

A new agency, represented by some of the most well-known cultural personalities in France, has been formed to guide the development of the planned Louvre Abu Dhabi, to be built in the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island.

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 23:00 August 12, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Supplied Picture
  • A model of the Louvre Abu Dhabi which is to be built in the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island.

Abu Dhabi: A new agency, represented by some of the most well-known cultural personalities in France, has been formed to guide the development of the planned Louvre Abu Dhabi, to be built in the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island.

The French Museums agency will operate in collaboration with the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), which is behind the transformation of Saadiyat Island. It will be chaired by French financier and member of the country's Academie Des Beaux Arts, Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere, publisher of the periodical Revue des Deux Mondes, with Bruno Maquart, the former Executive Director of Centre Pompidou acting as Executive Director.

"The French Museums agency comprises some of the finest minds in the French cultural arena," said Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and TDIC Chairman.

Training

"Working closely with TDIC, the French Museums agency members will be responsible for most aspects of planning of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, including the scientific and cultural programme, advising on the architecture, design and acquisitions, handling loans, temporary exhibitions, management support, visitor development and services."

He added: "Our long-term ambition is to see UAE nationals fully trained in these specialist fields and we intend to activate a series of art and cultural education initiatives to ignite within young Emiratis a determination to take up vocations in these sectors. ... A dedicated training action plan will be rolled out within 18 months with training sessions to be held in France and Abu Dhabi."

Agency stakeholders comprise representatives of the Louvre, Musique du Quai Branly, Centre Pompidou, Musee d'Orsay, Bibliothe¨que Nationale de France (BNF), Musee Guimet, Domaine national de Versailles, Domaine national de Chambord, Reunion de musiques nationaux, Ecole du Louvre and the capital projects organisation EP de maitrise d'ouvrage des travaux culturels.

The agency includes Henri Loyrette, Chairman and Director of the Louvre and former director of the Musee d'Orsay, who will chair its Scientific Committee, Laurence des Cars, the former curator of Musee d'Orsay, who will act as Scientific Director, and Sylvie Aubenas, Curator of the BNF's Engraving and Photography Department, who will also serve on the Scientific Committee. French architect Jean Nouvel designed the concept of Louvre Abu Dhabi.

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