Reopening Museums to A New Normal

Louvre Abu Dhabi has reopened after 100 days of closure. After having tirelessly worked to protect the collections and to accelerate the digital transformation of our content, we are now back to creating, managing and activating a space to welcome our community, visitors from all walks of life. And yet, it is very apparent we are not going back to the way things were. This is an entirely new reality, a new normal. We have become conscious and mindful of how people have been feeling about everything that is going on, from the health crisis to the current debate around inclusion and diversity. How we respond to these new circumstances and do better for our communities will define the future of this museum.

Louvre Abu Dhabi has always embodied mindfulness. Inspired by the traditional Arabic medina, and rooted in its territory, Jean Nouvel’s beautiful architecture, is indeed a space designed for meditation and contemplation. Mindfulness is woven throughout our curatorial approach, and the selection of artworks on view – rather than an encyclopaedic compilation of objects, we select works with a unique history, which, displayed side by side with other works from different cultures, tell stories of cultural connections throughout time and across the globe. Whether people come to the museum or take a virtual tour, we enable them to travel around the world without ever having to leave Abu Dhabi, or indeed, their own living room.

Right now, there is a rare opportunity to experience the serene beauty of the museum without the bustling crowds. To be standing on your own under the museum’s dramatic dome represents a much needed and welcome relief, far removed from the stress of the lockdown experience.   

Built on these foundations, and in response to this new environment brought about by COVID-19, Louvre Abu Dhabi is expanding its commitment to be a mindful museum. Through our visitor experience and programming, we aim to leverage the healing power of art and culture. We are in the planning stages of expanding our health and wellness initiative that will present therapeutic programmes for moments of calm, reflection, healing and self-expression in connection with Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection and architecture. We are committed, more than ever before, to bring beauty, solace and healing to our community.

Perhaps the most mindful action museums can take right now is to address the urgent need for diversity and inclusion within global cultural institutions and systems. This is not a conversation to shy away from, as challenging and complex it may be. Museums must be mindful of the responsibility we have to bring about positive change through the choice in artists and works, how we choose to examine art history, and the diversity of voices within our staff as well.

It is our role not only to safeguard cultural objects, but also to promote understanding of the historical context in which these objects were created and how they have been appropriated throughout time. Louvre Abu Dhabi, due to our unique geographic location and diverse, universal collection, can play an important role within this debate.

We have also made sure to reconnect with our audiences through our digital channels, ensuring that our celebration of cultural connections throughout history lives beyond our physical space. We did not let our temporary closure hinder our mission, creating digital initiatives that are a virtual extension of the real-life museum experience. While nothing compares to an in-person encounter with an artwork, we have seen the art world and museums embrace digital experiences in a way that they had not before. As such, I believe that the museum of the future will continue to combine the physical with the digital, and in doing so our cultural institutions will become even more accessible and open to the world.

We are more mindful than ever of caring for our visitors and staff through creating a safe and healthy experience within the museum. COVID-19 has led us to be even more thoughtful in how we interact with our space and how our museum can truly be a place of comfort and refuge during this time.

While no one knows what the future might bring, the only one thing we can say with certainty is that the response of cultural institutions in the UAE and abroad, including their creativity, their care, and their resilience has been incredible. I couldn’t be prouder to call myself one of their peers. I’d like to thank my wonderful colleagues and our partners for their continued resilience and perseverance during this challenging period. I feel very privileged to have successfully reopened our beautiful space to the public and look forward to seeing you all here soon.