If you thought Louvre Abu Dhabi was just about staring dreamily at masterpieces under that iconic dome, think again. The museum just dropped its first-ever Fellowships and Grants Programme, and spoiler alert: it’s not your regular scholarship round. This initiative is about reshaping how we think about art, history, and culture—basically rewriting the script of who gets to tell humanity’s story.
A Global Casting Call for Ideas
Picture this: 173 brilliant applications from around the world, all hoping to snag a golden ticket to research paradise. Out of that scholarly Hunger Games, five dazzling minds made the cut. These lucky few now get access to Louvre Abu Dhabi’s playground of knowledge—think a Conservation Centre, a Scientific Lab (the Gulf’s first of its kind!), and enough archives to make Indiana Jones jealous.
The Big Three Pillars
Every great show has its themes, and this programme’s plot twists revolve around:
- Global history of museums and collections
- Circulation of styles, images, and texts
- Precious materials and trade routes
Sounds fancy? It is. But here’s the kicker: each fellow is adding their own cultural remix to these topics, with fresh perspectives that make art history less Eurocentric and way more inclusive.
Meet the Fellowship Avengers
Hamid Keshmirshekan (UK):
The canon-buster. He’s here to question why European art history always hogs the spotlight and how Louvre Abu Dhabi can flip the script by showcasing Middle Eastern modern masters.
Helena Barranha (Portugal):
The architecture whisperer. She’s studying how the museum’s stunning design is reinterpreted by the public (yep, even through Instagram posts) and how AI is shaking up how we view iconic spaces.
Mizuho Ikeda (Japan/UK):
The faith curator. She’s diving into how sacred Hindu and Buddhist art is displayed in a multi-faith, global museum context. Because nothing says “global dialogue” like Buddha and Basquiat in the same space.
Rhomaillessa Talhaoui (Morocco/France):
The photo detective. Her research zooms in on early photos of Mecca (1880–1920), spotlighting local photographers and untangling colonial-era narratives that have long shaped how the world sees them.
Suhaila Almansoori (UAE):
The heritage heroine. A rising star in archaeology, she’s exploring pre-Islamic Christian history in the Emirates—yep, including a 6th–7th century monastery on Sīnīya Island that’s rewriting what we know about regional history.
The Perks of Being Brilliant
Brains don’t come cheap, and Louvre Abu Dhabi knows it. Short-term fellows are pocketing AED 85,000 for three months, while long-term fellows score AED 245,000 for nine months. Translation: these scholars can focus on reshaping history without worrying about paying rent.
What’s Next?
The museum isn’t stopping here. Later this year, the programme will open round two, bringing even more scholars and international partners into the fold. Imagine a global brain trust reimagining how art and culture connect us all—right from Abu Dhabi’s cultural heart.
In short? Louvre Abu Dhabi just assembled its own Justice League of Knowledge, and they’re here to make art history as diverse, inclusive, and forward-thinking as the museum itself.
