Abu Dhabi’s investment in culture ‘does not just mean’ museums

The Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism has indicated that while the Emirate remains to the development of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum, its aspirations to develop cultural and creative industries goes beyond buildings.

Speaking to The Art Newspaper at the preview of last weekend’s Abu Dhabi Art 2021, DCT Abu Dhabi Chairman, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak revealed “in Abu Dhabi there has been a very clear and conscious decision to invest in culture, and investing in culture does not just mean buildings,” Al Mubarak said.

“We’re investing in infrastructure, both soft and hard - whether it’s institutions, music programs, or school curricula.”

The Government of Abu Dhabi pledged to invest US$6 billion in cultural and creative industries earlier this year on top of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat Island, which already offers the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

While confirming that construction on the much-delayed institutions is continuing, Al Mubarak revealed little about the developments, merely advising “we will always be involved in projects of scale, but we are also in a position to incentivise and subsidise different artists and create opportunities for them here, not just from the UAE but regional artists, from Lebanon or Jordan.”

In September he advised “Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, along with other cultural institutions such as Louvre Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum, will undoubtedly contribute significantly to a thriving creative scene

“The region’s pre-eminent museum of global modern and contemporary art, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will present an equitable platform for art from all over the world.”

The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is on track to complete by 2025 while the Zayed National Museum is currently scheduled to open in 2023.

Image: The concept for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Credit: DCT Abu Dhabi.