Louvre Abu Dhabi and NYU Abu Dhabi sign agreement to extend collaboration in key areas

Louvre Abu Dhabi and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday to celebrate their shared achievements to date and further strengthen collaboration in several key areas ranging from education, research, and talent development to performances and programmes.

The two institutions have collaborated on a number of key projects including Reframing Museums, a live, virtual symposium on the challenges and responsibilities facing museums in light of COVID-19; the NYUAD China Gulf Forum; and the NYUAD Tenth Talks, as part of the University’s 10th anniversary celebrations, among many others.

Louvre Abu Dhabi and NYUAD have also jointly organised a number of cultural events, such as the Eid Digital Calligraffiti; Rooftop Rhythms, a live poetry and music event at the museum; Echoes, CUT, & Constellations, an evening of contemporary dance by Aakash Odedra; a performance by DJ Spooky; as well as an art history workshop, to name a few.

Other joint projects between the institutions have extended to collaborations between scientists at NYUAD and conservation specialists at Louvre Abu Dhabi, who together study the historical deterioration of materials used in works of art.

Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: “Today’s signing with New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is a celebration of the continuous growth of our partnership, and directly supports our core mission of telling stories of cultural connections through compelling exhibitions, educational and cultural programmes, and research initiatives. Louvre Abu Dhabi has fast become an important centre of learning in the emirate and the MoU allows us to engage in further initiatives that provide lasting benefit to an even greater number of student artists, researchers, educators and all those in the arts and culture community in the UAE. We have collaborated with NYUAD for a number of years and found in them a partner that shares our values. We are excited for what the future holds and look forward to the cultural exchange and artistic opportunities resulting from this signing.”

NYUAD Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann said: “Our partnership with Louvre Abu Dhabi goes far beyond our collaboration in hosting conferences, workshops, and cultural programmes. Universities and museums hold unique and related roles in civil societies as institutions of learning, discovery, and the preservation of the world’s cultural heritage. Today we celebrate our pledge to continue to promote our shared values, vision, and purpose. We look forward to working together and honouring our mission in the global crossroads of Abu Dhabi to nurture tomorrow’s leaders of the art world and serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas.”

The MoU between Louvre Abu Dhabi and NYUAD outlines key areas of collaboration between the two institutions, including exchanges among faculty, staff, and students through programmes, events, and research projects; mutual access to institutional facilities for research and programming (workshops, laboratories, scientific tools); joint public events and cultural programming; internships and mentoring programmes for NYUAD students and alumni; as well as a whole range of other potential opportunities for partnership in the arts.