The long-awaited Louvre Abu Dhabi is reportedly on track to open in November.
According to sources, no date has been confirmed but the building is now in the ‘final phase of preparation’.
300 works of art are expected to be loaned to the museum from France, alongside the Emirates’ 700-strong collection. These include the Belvedere Apollo and Leonardo da Vinci’s Belle Ferronnière.
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Jean Nouvel, the project has taken ten years to come to fruition and has been faced with a number of technical challenges. Among these was the installation of the mesh-like 12,000-tonne, 18-metre-diameter cupola.
According to The Art Newspaper, the museum is now undergoing structural and security testing in order to iron out any faults, however small. Once complete, the building will need time to stabilise before the artworks can be installed.
Final approval falls to the technical and security services of the French national museums umbrella organisation.
In the meantime, 3000 tradesmen are working on-site round-the-clock in an effort to meet the proposed November deadline.
Image: Louvre Abu Dhabi
https://theartnewspaper.com/news/museums/louvre-abu-dhabi-to-open-in-november-sources-say/
