Abu Dhabi's Louvre, Guggenheim delayed again
CBC News
Posted: Jan 25, 2012 1:51 PM ET
Last Updated: Jan 25, 2012 1:36 PM ET
French Architect Jean Nouvel poses in front of his model of the Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi in 2008. (Philippe Wojazer/Associated Press)
The openings of Abu Dhabi's much-touted Louvre and Guggenheim branches have been pushed back once again.
The government-backed developer building the ambitious, $27-billion US cultural district hosting the museum spin-offs announced new opening dates on Wednesday.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is now set to open in 2015, the Zayed National Museum will follow in 2016 and the Guggenheim branch after that, in 2017, according to the Tourism Development & Investment Company.
In its statement, the TDIC reported that "substantial work" has already been completed on the museums, including the finalizing of architectural designs and work on the buildings' foundations.
By revising the opening dates, the goal is to allow "each museum sufficient time to establish its own identity on the local and international cultural stage," the company said.
All three museums had previously been scheduled to open in quick succession in 2013.
Glittering outposts planned
Five years ago, the United Arab Emirates began unveiling plans for construction of a $27-billion US cultural district on the uninhabited Saadiyat Island, located just offshore of the capital of Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahayan, left, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy mark the start of construction for the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum in 2009. (Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images)The plan was to attract prestigious international art museums to open glittering new outposts in Abu Dhabi, branches which would then receive loans of art and artifacts from the museums' main collections. It's hoped that the new artsy neighbourhood will help turn the UAE city into an attractive cultural and tourism destination.
Officials with the Louvre and the Guggenheim signed on, enlisting French architect Jean Nouvel and Canadian Frank Gehry, respectively, to design the new centerpiece facilities of the cultural district. Other venues planned for the project include the national museum named after the first president of the UAE (Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan), a maritime museum and a performing arts centre.
Conceived during boom times, the museums' openings were initially delayed to 2014. In October, officials announced further opening delays, with local media reporting that a raft of government projects had been halted pending financial review amid more difficult economic times.
Share Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Railway strike if necessary, after both CP and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt says she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Stratford prepares for new director as season opens
- As the Stratford Shakespeare Festival opens its 60th season, high profile artistic director Des McAnuff is preparing to hand to reins to his successor Antoni Cimolino. Deana Sumanac reports. more »
- Quebec actress captures Cannes prize
- Canadian Suzanne Clement has been awarded the Best Actress prize in the Cannes Film Festival's sidebar competition, Un Certain Regard. more »
- Lady Gaga nixes Indonesia show after threats
- Lady Gaga cancelled her sold-out show in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt the youth. more »
- Sweden defeats Russian grannies in Eurovision song contest
- Sweden's Loreen clinches the top spot at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with her dance hit Euphoria, pushing aside competition from a sextet of Russian grannies and a Serbian balladeer. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Accused in blast that killed Alberta mom handled her funds
- Remains found in bag on Cape Breton river ID'd
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Quebec students, government to resume talks
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- Lip-dub marriage proposal an internet hit
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- B.C. NDP calls for unity in fighting coast guard closure
- Calgary Marathon winner breaks 21-year-old record
