Louvre Abu Dhabi - Controversies

Controversies

The deal has sparked much controversy in both artistic and academic circles. According to Maymanah Farhat, "the controversy that has surfaced in France is led by art historian Didier Rykner, one of the most outspoken critics of the French–Emirati deal." A petition against the deal, signed by 4,650 museum experts, archaeologists and art historians, has insisted that "museums are not for sale." The Louvre has been accused of behaving "like a corporation with a clearly-defined strategy: profit maximization." In the words of Didier Rykner:

We have lost a battle, but the combat continues. —Didier Rykner