22 Dec 2014
Egypt banking on art and heritage to bring back prosperity
BY Tom Anstey
The Egyptian government is bidding to reinvigorate its art and heritage sector through heavy investment into the renovation and restoration of its historical cultural sites and institutions.
The most significant part of the investment – the renovation of the Tutankhamun gallery at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo – is part of a seven-year project to refurbish the entire Egyptian Museum. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab was on-hand for the launch of the four renovated galleries, which feature Tutankhamun's mummy alongside various treasures that were excavated from his tomb, discovered in 1922. The gallery renovation alone is thought to have cost around US$7.8m (€6.3m, £5m).
Further plans for the museum, which first opened in 1902, include the demolition of a building that used to be the headquarters of the former government, partially destroyed during the January 2013 Revolution. The building stands between the museum and the river Nile, and will be replaced with a botanical garden and an open-air museum. The renovation of the museum is being aided by the Egyptian government, with added funds from the European Union and other international donors.
Also this month, a colossal statue of Amenhotep III – that was toppled in an earthquake more than 3,000 years ago – was re-erected and restored to its former glory at Egypt’s temple city of Luxor. The 12.9m (43ft) statue, unveiled on 14 December, stands west of an existing effigy of the king, also restored, which was unveiled in March 2014.
Beyond backing projects, the government is looking to protect its existing treasures, recently calling on UNESCO in a bid to help preserve the nation’s heritage and strengthen and develop its museum culture, amidst widespread chaos and the risk of Egypt’s heritage being ‘lost forever.’
It is hoped that the renovation of the Egyptian Museum will be the first step in a bid to draw back tourists, after the country suffered from the effects of more than two years of civil unrest.
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