It is set to be one of the greatest cultural landmarks in the region and although it is still two years until it opens, the permanent collection of the Louvre Abu Dhabi will be immortalised in a book. Containing more than 300 works of art, ranging over the course of centuries, Birth of a Museum reveals the acquisitions of the future Louvre Abu Dhabi as well as telling the story of how the highly anticipated institution was founded. Hissa Al Dhaheri, the project manager of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, says: “While this remarkable permanent collection takes shape, the importance of telling the story must be documented. This publication, an abstract of the collection in book form, is intended to continue to engage the community, the art world and the student, towards the realisation of the museum. We hope to provide the widest access possible to the philosophies, knowledge and passion embodied by these acquisitions.” The book will be launched today during a ceremony in Manarat Al Saadiyat, close to the construction site of the museum. As well as the works, presented in their cultural context, the book will contain a selection of essays by key cultural figures. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (ADTCA), Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, the director general of ADTCA and Rita Aoun-Abdo, the executive director of the culture sector at ADTCA, have all contributed their thoughts about how imperative this institution is to the cultural fabric of the entire region. There are also important contributions from Henri Loyrette, the former president and director of the Louvre Museum, and a range of academics, including an entry by Laurence des Cars, the curatorial director of Agence France-Muséums, who is also the curator of the Birth of a Museum exhibition that runs until July 20.