On Wednesday the board of trustees of the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) agreed not to censure or penalise museums that use restricted funds, trusts or donations for operating expenses, for a period until April 2022. It also agreed on a policy that allows members to deaccession works from their collections only for the purpose of looking after the rest of the collection. ‘This is a crisis without precedent in our lifetime, with global implications and with a timeline that unfolds as we live it,’ said the organisation’s president Brent Benjamin, who is the director of the St Louis Art Museum.
As the cultural landscape of the Middle East continues to evolve, Abu Dhabi is preparing to unveil one of its most anticipated artistic milestones. On 11 December 2026, the long-awaited Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will officially open its doors, marking a transformative moment not only for the UAE but also for the international art world.