Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will finally be a reality 2025 . This has been announced by Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), who pointed out that the project in the hands of the emblematic studio Frank Gehry is in the process of being completed, hoping to become "the main Museum of Modern Art and contemporary of the region".
Located at the epicenter of Saadiyat Cultural District , the museum will not only aim to erect "an equitable platform for the art from all over the world”, will also seek to define the lines of a historic construction, especially by using the inspiration of the vernacular architecture of the United Arab Emirates and the region.
Thus, the much acclaimed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be part of the growing network of cultural institutions in Abu Dhabi, which includes the louvre abu dhabi , the New York University Abu Dhabi, the cultural center Manarat Al-Saadiyat and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation.
GUGGENHEIM ABU DHABI WILL OPEN ITS DOORS IN 2025
From the beginning, the project had been in the hands of the creator of the most disruptive constructions, and after being postponed both in the early 2010s and in 2020 due to the pandemic, Frank Gehry –also author of the Guggenheim Bilbao, the Weisman Art Museum and the Guggenheim in New York– he has expressed his delight at the announcement: "It is really exciting to see this project enter this new phase. I am immensely proud to be working closely with our partners, DCT Abu Dhabi and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation , to create a home for its innovative cultural program. I hope that this building will be welcomed by the people of the Arab Emirates and may this work endure as a milestone for the country for many years".
With almost 30,000 square meters , the museum will constitute the last and most colossal delivery of the international constellation of museums of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation , focusing on global modern and contemporary art, in addition to having as its mission to promote cultural exchange in order to contribute and stimulate perspectives on the history of art.
The structure will host a global collection with a specific focus on West Asia, North Africa and South Asia , with local and regional experts who will play a crucial role in the development of the collection and the different programs of the museum.
In turn, it should be noted that Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will provide a platform for artists from the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf, and the entire world to create commissioned works and engage with global audiences.
"The museum will also play a civic role through its mission to spark greater interest in modern art and global contemporary, fostering diversity and inclusion in meaningful cultural exchange. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi , along with other cultural institutions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum, will undoubtedly contribute significantly to a thriving creative scene" declared H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the DCT Abu Dhabi, in a statement.
Render Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry.
Richard Armstrong, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, adds: "The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, housed in the unmistakable Frank Gehry building , will house a wide and changing collection of works of art. We look forward to sharing the museum's collection, programming, and building with the public in the future. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi".
As part of the commitment of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi to support the artists of the region, the museum has curated and offered engaging programming for its audience since its inception. This includes three exhibitions held in Abu Dhabi with selected works from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Collection in an attempt to represent the vision of the future museum. Additionally, the museum has orchestrated a public program highlighting contemporary artists from around the world.
In addition to Guggenheim Abu Dhabi , among the next cultural institutions that will be incorporated into the Saadiyat Cultural District, stand out the Zayed National Museum , dedicated to celebrating the life and accomplishments of the founding father of the Arab Emirates , the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the Abraham Family House , a multi-denominational place of worship.