Thu, Nov 14, 2013
by Martin Bailey
Two of Iraq’s most prominent museums are due to open within the next two years. The directors of the National Museum in Baghdad and the Basra Museum expect their institutions to reopen in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
The director of the Basra Museum hopes that the project will create a “mini national museum”. It is expected to cost $5m, of which just over half is coming from the provincial government. The remainder has been raised by the Friends of Basra Museum, and substantial contributions from the energy company BP. The British Museum is also assisting with staff training and advice.
Plans are also being developed for the construction of other new museums in Iraq, including the Grand National Museum, which Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid is in discussions to design the project.
Read the story at The Art Newspaper.
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