UAE signs operational structure of Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi

posted on 08/01/2008: 65 views

Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, board chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage received Monday at Emirates palace French Culture Minister Christine Albanel. Accompanied by a delegation, Albanel is paying her first official visit to Abu Dhabi to sign an agreement on the operational structure of Louvre museum Abu Dhabi.

The agreement, which was signed yesterday at Emirates Palace, covers exhibition halls and special measures on selection of artefacts for the museum, as well as, fairs which will be hosted periodically by the museum.

Louvre museum Abu Dhabi, which was designed by a French architect, Jean Nouvel, is one of the five cultural establishments that will be constructed at the cultural district at Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Sultan said that the "agreement meets the objectives and vision of Abu Dhabi government, which aim at boosting the cultural movement in the capital and training of UAE national cadres in running artistic and cultural establishments".

Meanwhile, Albanel expressed her pleasure about the visit, adding that they discussed with Sheikh Sultan the construction and management, services and scientific and cultural programmes of the museum.

"Louvre museum Abu Dhabi will not be an identical copy of Louvre museum Paris, but will have its own identity as a world class museum, which will tell its visitors about the ancient history and modern era. It will combine different eras through display of artefacts of different civilisations", she said.

Albanel told Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the cultural diversification at Louvre museum Abu Dhabi "reflects historic mixture in one pot and translates the civilizations' dialogue. It will display European, Asian, Arab, Islamic and other artefacts, which will mix up to relate historic chronology in expressive and impressive artistic style".

The French official said the controversy, which flared up in France over setting up Louvre Abu Dhabi was a healthy and eventually came in favour of this world class project, adding that "the controversy ended in reflecting noble approach behind setting up Louvre Abu Dhabi". "Those who stirred up the debate are today ardent supporters of the project, because they now dubbed it as unprecedented qualitative move of French culture outside Europe", Albanel remarked. - Emirates News Agency, WAM

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