Artists call for human rights overhaul at Abu Dhabi Louvre site

Construction of the new branch of the Louvre museum and the Guggenheim museum draw negative responses from artists, curators and writers as the human rights fight pushes on.
[This is archived content and may not display in the originally intended format.]

Over 130 artists have voiced their intention to boycott the international museums currently under construction on Saadiyat Island in the United Arab Emirates. The group Gulflabor, which includes the artists Doug Ashford, Tania Brugera, Sam Durant, Mariam Ghani, Hans Haacke, Walid Raad and Michael Rakowitz, are concerned about the welfare of emigrant workers as construction begins on the new branch of the Louvre.

In 2009 Human Rights Watch released an 80-page report that slammed the living conditions, working conditions and pay conditions of the South Asian workers, however also saying that the UAE government has moved to raise the level of their living conditions. The suggestion was also made to the international companies building new centres that they ensure that the workers welfare is written into the project contracts with the UAE.

Unlock Padlock Icon

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

ArtsHub
About the Author
ArtsHub is your source for arts sector news and jobs. You can support our work by joining us. Find out more about membership.