The Iraqi Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is planning a new museum on the site of the former Al-Muthanna airport in the heart of Baghdad.
Going under the working title of The Grand Museum of Iraq, it is hoped the museum will display objects currently stored at the National Museum of Iraq alongside new pieces unearthed during archaeological excavations across the country.
Museums Journal understands that tourism and antiquities minister Liwaa Sumaysem is backing the idea and met with Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid last year to discuss the project, although Zaha Hadid Architects would not confirm this.
According to a spokesman at the Iraqi Cultural Centre in London, a budget of around $1bn has been allocated to the project, which is envisaged as a tourist centre and will also include the construction of shops, hotels, and a library. But he added: “These are just plans. Even the place is not yet confirmed.”
But Lamia Al-Gailani, a research associate at the University of London and a former curator of the National Museum of Iraq, said: “It is not the time to create a new museum, the old museum is quite adequate, and they have just built new storerooms [at the National Museum of Iraq].
“They have got a lot of antiquities [in storage], but we have museums in the provinces so they could just send them all around.
“I think they have no idea what we have in the store rooms. It is just for the glory of it that they want [the new museum] in their name.”
John Curtis, keeper of the Middle East collections at the British Museum (BM), said that the BM, which is currently working with the Iraqi government on the creation of a new museum in Basra, had not been approached about the new museum, and that he didn’t think any foreign organisation was involved with the project at this stage.
The National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad remains closed to the public as restoration work continues, although Museums Journal understands that the Assyrian Hall, refurbished with help from the Italian culture ministry, can now be accessed by the public with permission.
Going under the working title of The Grand Museum of Iraq, it is hoped the museum will display objects currently stored at the National Museum of Iraq alongside new pieces unearthed during archaeological excavations across the country.
Museums Journal understands that tourism and antiquities minister Liwaa Sumaysem is backing the idea and met with Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid last year to discuss the project, although Zaha Hadid Architects would not confirm this.
According to a spokesman at the Iraqi Cultural Centre in London, a budget of around $1bn has been allocated to the project, which is envisaged as a tourist centre and will also include the construction of shops, hotels, and a library. But he added: “These are just plans. Even the place is not yet confirmed.”
But Lamia Al-Gailani, a research associate at the University of London and a former curator of the National Museum of Iraq, said: “It is not the time to create a new museum, the old museum is quite adequate, and they have just built new storerooms [at the National Museum of Iraq].
“They have got a lot of antiquities [in storage], but we have museums in the provinces so they could just send them all around.
“I think they have no idea what we have in the store rooms. It is just for the glory of it that they want [the new museum] in their name.”
John Curtis, keeper of the Middle East collections at the British Museum (BM), said that the BM, which is currently working with the Iraqi government on the creation of a new museum in Basra, had not been approached about the new museum, and that he didn’t think any foreign organisation was involved with the project at this stage.
The National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad remains closed to the public as restoration work continues, although Museums Journal understands that the Assyrian Hall, refurbished with help from the Italian culture ministry, can now be accessed by the public with permission.
