The famously known Louvre Museum in Paris, France will soon find a duplicate home in the United Arab Emirates. The agreement that has been reached between the UAE and France can only be described as culturally masterful. The Louvre in Paris has been for the most part the greatest historical landmark and tourist attraction in central Paris.

The Louvre has been in existence since the late 12th century and is one of the important museums in France. The glorious art gallery and museum has occupied the opulent architectural structure since 1793. The Museum is home to the world's most prestigious works of art like Leonardo da Vinci s Mona Lisa,The Virgin and Child with St. Anne, Madonna of the Rock, and Alexandros of Antioch's Venus de Milo. The long aniticpated deal that brings the Louvre museum to Abu Dhabi has created quite the buzz in the United Arab Emirates.

Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Tourism Development and Investment Company and the French Minister for Culture and Communications Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres signed historic the deal. De Vabres is adamant that the deal was not a 'market'. "It is a magnificent project, in that it is humanistic and it is a call for intercultural dialogue," he said. The agreement has set a historical precedence for the two nations of the UAE and France.

It also marks an enormous cultural undertaking for both countries. The Louvre Abu Dhabi will be constructed at an estimated one billion euro cost. The Abu Dhabi museum has a scheduled completion date of 2012 and will cover an area of 24,000 sq meters. The cultural undertaking is considered part of Saadiyat Island's Cultural District project. The 30-year agreement provides the Louvre Abu Dhabi long-standing loans from the Louvre and other French museums like the Musee du Quai Branly, Centre Georges Pompidou, Musee d'Orsay, Versailles, Guiment and Rodin.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan suggested the UAE was determined to achieve a cultural renaissance by promoting of their country's cultural heritage "We are embarking on massive cultural projects that are not only aimed at preserving our country's heritage and history but also meant to bridge the gap between world cultures," he said during a meeting with de Vabres

Great News,but did you know that of the 1 BILLION EUROS earmarked for this project,half or 500 MILLION EUROS goes to the name trademark Louvre only!

Great step for AD and UAE.

all french ppl i know and on TV are against it !!!

^^ they should

Many people are pissed off nowadays :D

WeLL DoNe UAE...U Did it as always.. We WoN..

Modern art lovers in for a treat

Abu Dhabi: For the first time in 26 years, Artparis, one of the biggest and most famous modern art exhibition will be showing outside France and it has chosen Abu Dhabi as its first destination.

An agreement to host the exhibition from November 26-29 at the Emirates Palace Hotel has been signed by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, said Caroline Clough-Lacoste, Fair Manager at Artparis.

She noted that Abu Dhabi has become "a cultural centre" in the Arab world, also pointing at the recently signed agreement between the Louvre Museum and Abu Dhabi.

The exhibition will include approximately 40 galleries, with 400 participants. Thirty of these galleries are allocated to artists from the heart of Europe and some of them will exhibit Arab artwork. There are also 10 galleries allocated to artists from India and Lebanon.




Creations

For its first edition, the fair will present a broad panorama of the artistic creations of the 20th century and 21st century [painting, sculpture, photography] while respecting the sensibility of a Muslim audience.

"I am in constant touch with the Arab world, as I have lived in Lebanon for 14 years.

"When Artparis decided to exhibit its work outside Paris. I thought that Abu Dhabi would be the best place to embrace the exhibition, as it has become a cultural centre in the region and the people here have a thirst for culture," said Laure d'Hauteville, Project Manager at Artparis

The exhibition this year is to be held in Paris on March 28 and will be attended by President Jacques Chirac at the Grand Palace.

An annual exhibition for Gulf artists will be launched in 2008.

Artparis strives to establish a tutorial academic programme to educate the youth in the region on both the visual and artistic aspects, said Clough-Lacoste.

She also stressed that Abu Dhabi will become a cultural bridge between different countries in the Middle East and the West.

According to officials in Abu Dhabi, today more than ever before they aim to establish the emirate as a cultural destination in the Arab world.

Strategy

The various agreements signed with the Guggenheim Museum and Sorbonne University, alongside the prospective creation of a "Louvre Abu Dhabi" are the most promising signs of that development.

And with this strategic path of cultural development, the authorities in Abu Dhabi were keen to enter into an exclusive partnership with Artparis to establish a fair dedicated to modern and contemporary art under the name of "Artparis-Abu Dhabi."

all french ppl i know and on TV are against it !!!

Obviously

First of all, the Louvre is not a brand, it's a place. With a history and now a purpose, spread culture.

And I'd like the Louvre directors responsible for this to work in the same conditions as the UAE construction workers to build this Louvre anthena for a month.

I saw the director of the Louvre on TV kissing the Emirates ass. He disgusted me.

I don't like the idea but money makes everyting possible nowadays.

You can like it or hate, well, the Louvre's comin' to town wheather you like it or not.

Again well done, Abu Dhabi, with the Guggenheim museum already establishing its branch here in the country, its goin' to be big for the UAE with both these world class museums here.

meanwhile half the region is running out of drinking water.
yeah good choice for spending. :nuts:

just to wonder - how will they show nudes? or only islmaic art?

^^ I guess Israel knows how to spend money the best.

^^ if we have russian nude girls so why not Art ..

It's Abu Dhabi not Dubai...and the improtant thing is the meaning of the art not what the pics looks like...

and i am sure France trusts us ,,so that the deal was going ok.. and we won it ..

Im against Louvre in UAE, but i would absolutely favor a Pompidu kind of modern art museum, although as someone said before, modern art contains nudity and does not avoid special topics (islam) many times, so it would be a problem for muslims probably. As for Louvre, the historical background, the uniqueness etc, i think it should stay where it is now, no duplicates of such thing. I blame France for this, they shouldnt have "sold the Louvre".

meanwhile half the region is running out of drinking water.
yeah good choice for spending. :nuts:

just to wonder - how will they show nudes? or only islmaic art?

The Louvre Abu Dhabi will have to breach significant cultural barriers before it opens, since representations of the human figure — even when clothed — can be a religious taboo in the Muslim world. One Arab reporter asked during a news conference Tuesday whether the museum would protect its visitors against "pornography."

Museum officials did not address the issue of nudity in works. But art selection will be done by a committee including Abu Dhabi's rulers, who understand the sensitivities in this city, one of the more liberal bastions in the conservative Gulf

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070306/ap_on_re_mi_ea/selling_the_louvre_1;_ylt=Ak41OsGvjGYoeIj9J.3bJ.LgelIB

Guys, stick to the point. Every time we start a new thread, it has to be closed. If you dont like the project, then just dont comment AND insult other nations and country's. You have a right not to like something... come on.. we're all civilized.

edit

Whatever a GCC country would do, you will find experts in this forum to criticize. Ok how about having the Sorbonne university in Abu Dhabi


Gilles de Robien, France's education minister, has signed an agreement with his emirati counterpart to set up an outpost of the prestigious French Sorbonne university in oil-rich Abu Dhabi.



This is the first venture of its kind outside of France for the Sorbonne, an institution dating back to 1253 CE and whose landmark building in the heart of Paris was commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Abu Dhabi's crown prince, said on Sunday: "This confirms the advance in relations between the Emirates and France to the cultural dimension."

De Robien and Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates higher education minister, signed the accord.


Sorbonne Abu Dhabi will open in October, initially to 200 students. Up to 1500 students are expected in three years.

Its curriculum will be secular and liberal arts-oriented with a focus on French language, history, geography, literature and philosophy.

Costly degree

Students will pay an average of $20,000 (16,600 euros) per academic year for the privilege of a Paris-Sorbonne degree, added the source.

De Robien said: "I am very confident in this partnership, which is the culmination of a long process."

The seven-emirate federation of the UAE, which includes Dubai, is one of the most liberal among the conservative Muslim countries of the Gulf region.

With the money spent,they could have rehabililated or bought all museum in arab world,and made a international class one with thousand of islamic masterpieces,from kuran to scientific books to poems to to ... its better that nude girls

You dont need these kind of comments, the art of nudity or composing nudity in art can have deeper meaning to many people than Quran to muslims.

Edit

Africa500, you think these things are about porn? This kind of art has the same value as any other form, the only difference is that sometimes the people represented are nude.

I will not be able to explain to you anything, as you have this "black background, standing nude girl infront" fixation. Nudity can have very strong meaning in the right context, and yes it can tell a lot about politics, enviroment, demographics, feelings anything. Just an easy example, two strong (naked) male bodies can very well represent communism if rightly shown. But its very frustrating to bring up an example, go and see a few exhibitions (even online) if interested, if not then just respect it, it is part of our culture.

^^ I guess our brains arent capable of appreciating a beauty that we have no right in.

Huh? I think you havent read africa's post (its edited now somehow), and you misunderstood something.

How big is the collection going to be... and why the name Louvre?

come on it is 21st century, wake up :lol:

It's a done deal UAE got the rights to the name "Louvre Museum" for 30 years...

Abu Dhabi "Le Louvre"

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jrNO8jJ2HDXylYhCA95Sf5whgR_g

Half billion of euros just for a name!?

If they can't build their own museum with it's name (*nuts*) and their own art, then I don't see the point. In that case you really don't need a museum.

I'm totally against this idea!!!!Le Louvre is a french museum and it should stay french. UAE doesn't have any culture, past, history and now, they want to have the most important landmarks of the world (le louvre, sorbonne, something bigger than london eye, biggest shopping center...) in their own country??!!!

:tongue:

UAE doesn't have any culture, past, history...


And you don't have education. ;)

I know everything I say is usually regarded as negative and against people... but I believe that money would be better spent in a genuinely Emirati museum... a museum that would represent the country and that could be a reason of pride for the Emiratis, not just a "franchise"...

I mean, with all the money they're spending just to pay the Louvre brand, they could build a better museum and bring world class art collections from all over the world, to show temporarily (as it happens in museums all over the world), as well as having their own permanent collection.

Anyway
Good Luck

Half a billion Euros just for a trademark :?

but I believe that money would be better spent in a genuinely Emirati museum... a museum that would represent the country and that could be a reason of pride for the Emiratis, not just a "franchise"...


I actually agree but I believe it's a well calculated business plan. Many tourists will be intrigued by a middle-eastern Louvre especially since the UAE hasn't established its name as an arts lovers destination.

On the other hand, if I were French I would be really pissed :D (but I am not so hahahaaaaa :tongue2:)

Congratulations to the UAE, the land of the amusing wonders :applause:

^^ i agree..

:tongue:

Good one smussuw :okay:

--------------------------

I don't understand why so many people are pissed at this (well, except for the French whom I do understand). I think it's a good idea, why pretend you can make a great museum when no one is going to walk through the doors; this is a good idea, it will make the place known and by time they will have their own collection and then their own museum.


It's better than opening a new Hooter's!

Many tourists will be intrigued by a middle-eastern Louvre especially since the UAE hasn't established its name as an arts lovers destination.

But that was my point, that the UAE should build a great arts museum of their own to establish its name as an arts lovers destination. This way they just bought the rights to use someone else's names... and this is not something arts lover will appreciate much, since art is about being special, different, unique...

However, if this means that a new world class arts museum will open its doors, in the UAE or anywhere, it's definitely great news, even though I may not agree with the name or the concept.

As for the French, I understand how much they dislike the idea... anyway, they shouldn't be pissed at the Emiratis but at the Louvre museum.

I'm totally against this idea!!!!Le Louvre is a french museum and it should stay french. UAE doesn't have any culture, past, history and now, they want to have the most important landmarks of the world (le louvre, sorbonne, something bigger than london eye, biggest shopping center...) in their own country??!!!

Sniff.....I smell JEALOUSY :lol:

Good one smussuw :okay:

Same here:lol:

Sniff.....I smell JEALOUSY :lol:

You can smell anything but not jealousy. Why would i be jealous?just because UAE is taking all of these important international landmarks? I don't need them because at least, my country has it's own landmarks and it's own museums.

My point is: I'm WITH the development of UAE but it's going too far like this. Le Louvre has been created centuries ago and it's one of the most important museums of the world as it hosts the most important pieces of art (like Mona Lisa). When you think of Le Louvre, you think of France but now, you'll think of France and UAE. why? What did UAE do to have the privilege to have Le Louvre? le Louvre isn't just a simple museum, it also represents the French Revolution, The French indutrial revolution, artistic revolution...It's not just art, it's a long history and I think it has to stay in French and if anyone wants to visit it, let him go to France.

It took ages to build Le Louvre and make it important as it is now and UAE wants to have it in arround ten years?
I don't even know how did French people accepted this?!

And the same thing can be applied to Sorbonne.

And you don't have education. ;)

Thanks for your comment but i know exactly what i'm talking about.
And i know more what kind of education i have.

You can smell anything but not jealousy. Why would i be jealous?just because UAE is taking all of these important international landmarks? I don't need them because at least, my country has it's own landmarks and it's own museums.

My point is: I'm WITH the development of UAE but it's going too far like this. Le Louvre has been created centuries ago and it's one of the most important museums of the world as it hosts the most important pieces of art (like Mona Lisa). When you think of Le Louvre, you think of France but now, you'll think of France and UAE. why? What did UAE do to have the privilege to have Le Louvre? le Louvre isn't just a simple museum, it also represents the French Revolution, The French indutrial revolution, artistic revolution...It's not just art, it's a long history and I think it has to stay in French and if anyone wants to visit it, let him go to France.

It took ages to build Le Louvre and make it important as it is now and UAE wants to have it in arround ten years?
I don't even know how did French people accepted this?!

And the same thing can be applied to Sorbonne.
The UAE payed money, that's why !! :happy:

well i guess money can buy everything nowadays, even culture lol

You can smell anything but not jealousy. Why would i be jealous?just because UAE is taking all of these important international landmarks? I don't need them because at least, my country has it's own landmarks and it's own museums.

My point is: I'm WITH the development of UAE but it's going too far like this. Le Louvre has been created centuries ago and it's one of the most important museums of the world as it hosts the most important pieces of art (like Mona Lisa). When you think of Le Louvre, you think of France but now, you'll think of France and UAE. why? What did UAE do to have the privilege to have Le Louvre? le Louvre isn't just a simple museum, it also represents the French Revolution, The French indutrial revolution, artistic revolution...It's not just art, it's a long history and I think it has to stay in French and if anyone wants to visit it, let him go to France.

It took ages to build Le Louvre and make it important as it is now and UAE wants to have it in arround ten years?
I don't even know how did French people accepted this?!

And the same thing can be applied to Sorbonne.

Why are you going mad for this?? The French themselves didn't mind. UAE never claimed that it wanted to accommodate this museum for any reason other than tourism. If I'm in a business trip to Abu Dhabi and have the oppurtunity to see the original Mona Lisa, why not?? And yes, UAE will have its own big museum soon

^^ maybe because he was colonized by France? :dunno:

^^ maybe because he was colonized by France? :dunno:

Maybe :lol:

1)My country has been colonized by France but that's not why I like this country, ok?!
2)sargon, what french are you talking about?the gv't? ALL my french friends are against it. btw, i may sound mad but really i'm not ;)

Tab 5alas, if it makes u happy, i'm WITH it ;)

:lol: :lol:

^^ maybe because he was colonized by France? :dunno:

Lebanon was under the French mandate, it wasn't a colony.

Well, I guess sometimes its necessary to buy "culture" when a country doesnt have its own

Well, I guess sometimes its necessary to buy "culture" when a country doesnt have its own

Actually Arabs have a lot of culture, your avatar are after all Arabic scriptures :lol:

Get a life Panj are you gonna waste away your entire life with hate?

The Holy Quran is the most valuable asset in Arab culture. Its read in Arabic and billions of people around the world recite from it.

BTW, this is a very splendid move by Abu Dhabi. It will add a lot to its collections of museums. BTW, Smussuw have you heard of the Sheik Zayed Musum being built in Abu Dhabi. It will be a landmark in the city and will pay tribute to one of the Arab world's greatest leaders Sheik Zayed. The Natural History Museum close to where I live in Sharjah is splended and showcases the Arabian wild animals in their natural habitat.

The UAE's spectacular history and culture are about to be showcased in one of the world's most prestegious buildings.. OH, yeah I wasnt talking about the Louve or Guggenheim.

Plus, the Louve showcases many paintings and artifacts--not only French but a collection from all over the world. And sharing these artifacts will contribute to the tourism in Abu Dhabi.

WAY TO GO UAE!!

any renders of the museum?

Actually Arabs have a lot of culture, your avatar are after all Arabic scriptures :lol:


lol, its Persian scripture, arab and persian use similar letters sometimes

^^ It's Arabic letters regardless of the language.

Ottoman Turkish was also written in Arabic script

^^ dont remind them :nono:

don't remind what and whom?

lol, its Persian scripture, arab and persian use similar letters sometimes

NO, Those are Arabic alphabets with the exception of 4 letters that have been modified for Farsi and Urdu..

Arabic Scriptures are also used as far as Malay and yes former Turkish were in Arabic alphabets as well.

UFO... LOL, I said when a "country" (i.e. tiny UAE with only 3 million?? people) and you extend that to the entire Arab world????... stop being so dramatic all the time. And it's Persian caligraphy that you see in my avatar, and yes, Persian uses a modified Arab script, which itself uses a modified aramaic script. Chill out.

UFO... LOL, I said when a "country" (i.e. tiny UAE with only 3 million?? people) and you extend that to the entire Arab world????... stop being so dramatic all the time. And it's Persian caligraphy that you see in my avatar, and yes, Persian uses a modified Arab script, which itself uses a modified aramaic script. Chill out.

LMAO okay sorrry, because I'm so use to hate posts from you I can't differentiate between the "GOOD" Panj posts and the "BAD" Panj posts.

So sorry if i misunderstood you, It was an honest mistake.

by Elizabeth Broomhall on Feb 13, 2011

The Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) in Abu Dhabi is inviting pre-qualification applications for the systems integration sub-contract works for the Saadiyat Cultural District, museum projects.

The contract, which will include work on the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, is open to all suitable contractors with commensurate experience.

http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-11053-abu-dhabi-museums-invite-bids-for-subcontract-work/