Museums Review

The third phase of a scheme to redesign the venerable Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square as a museum of Pharaonic arts has been launched, writes Nevine El-Aref

Following 16 months of fundamental reconstruction, the third phase of the Egyptian museum development project was inaugurated last week. The aim of the project is to provide more services and facilities for the museum's patrons, including the addition of a new visitor's route and extension of the hours of operation until 10pm. The museum is now equipped with a brand new visitor centre that includes a striking bookstore, cafeteria, restaurant and a children's museum. This centre is located on the west side of the museum building and will be accessible by means of the museum's new tour route.

Read More:
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2010/1028/he21.htm

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) official inauguration is scheduled for September 2011. Developed with technical support from UNESCO, the building, located in EL-Fustat, was designed by the Egyptian architect Dr El Ghazzali Kosseiba and the Japanese interior designer Arata Isozaki.

The museum is an exploration of Egypt's history through an exploration of its people as well as the monuments they built. On display will be 150,000 artifacts selected from museums around Egypt including Cairo's Egyptian, Islamic and Coptic museums; the Greco-Roman and Alexandria National museums in Alexandria; and the Luxor Museum. Archaeological artifacts kept in storage in sites such as the Giza Plateau and Saqqara will also be put on display. The transfer of these objects will start next week where they will be stored in the NMEC's vaults until its opening. The museum will also display the feats and achievements that Egypt history has witnessed over the span of its time. In addition to the chosen collection, the NMEC will house a whole set of monuments, among them the Seboua Temple of Ramses II, now on Lake Nasser; a complete façade of a Fatimid sabil; two columns from King Djoser's temple at Saqqara; the collection of royal mummies; and the mummy of the ancient Egyptian artist Sanejem which is now on display at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square.

Work will soon begin on the final phase of the planned Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Giza Plateau, Nevine El-Aref reports.

The Ministry of Culture opened a bid early this week for the four specialised companies that won an international competition to carry out the third and final phase of the construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). This phase includes the construction of the museum's main building and its inner galleries. Culture Minister Farouk Hosni expects that the construction work, which will begin in February following approval by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), sponsor of the GEM, will last for 26 months. He says that in order to choose the best and most qualified company for the GEM's construction, bid files will be distributed among the four chosen companies to be studied and to help them in proposing their offers.

Read More:
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2010/1027/eg9.htm

As familiar and known a sight as that of the Giza Pyramids, the medieval Citadel sits conspicuously over the haze of Cairo's minarets, with the Mohammed Ali mosque glimmering like a beacon to all travellers, visitors and Cairenes alike.

Read more: http://www.cairo360.com/article/53/the-citadel-cairos-ancient-fortress/

In the second part of our series on Museums You’ve Probably Never Been To, Cairo360 brings you more amazing museums and historical places that you should definitely visit (if you haven’t already) to mix up your weekend calendar.

Read more: http://www.cairo360.com/article/461/more-museums-youve-probably-never-be...

Conceptualising over five thousand years of Egyptian history kind of makes our brains go fuzzy.

Read more: http://www.cairo360.com/article/568/cairo-guide-visiting-coptic-cairo/

We all know that Egypt has a wealth of historical sites and a rich overlap of cultures spanning thousands of years.

read more: http://www.cairo360.com/article/167/museums-youve-probably-never-been-to...

I’m no history buff, and the thought of spending my afternoon in a museum would usually send me running in the opposite direction.

Read more: http://www.cairo360.com/article/55/museum-of-islamic-ceramics-beautiful-...

While this quasi-art enthusiast will jump at the chance to scope out a collection of modern art that has yet to be seen, the term modern art itself can often leave one feeling slightly lost in its grandeur.

Read more: http://www.cairo360.com/article/381/museum-of-modern-egyptian-art-art-is...

While the Mahmoud Mukhtar Museum might sound like yet another museum found on the posh island of Zamalek, the history behind its existence is interesting.

Read more: http://www.cairo360.com/article/563/mahmoud-mukhtar-museum-father-of-mod...

Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil was a prominent politician, minister of agriculture, and speaker of the senate.

Read more: http://www.cairo360.com/article/439/mr-and-mrs-mahmoud-khalil-museumtake...

After years of restoration work on its fine neo-Mameluke buildings and exhibitions of Islamic art, Cairo's Museum of Islamic Art is close to reopening to the public. Nevine El-Aref took a tour

On Port Said Street in the Bab Al-Khalq area of Cairo stands the lofty, honey- coloured edifice of the Museum of Islamic Art, its neo-Mameluke architecture and luxurious façade featuring the rich patterns and elaborate decoration of the Islamic style.

However, inside the institution the picture that greets visitors will soon be far less familiar. Following years of restoration work, visitors to the museum will soon be able to roam around spacious galleries showcasing the museum's collection of rare wooden, metal, ceramic, glass, rock crystal and textile objects from across the Islamic world.

Read More:
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/967/heritage.htm