Guggenheim Abu Dhabi names inaugural director ahead of opening
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has appointed Dr. Valerie Hillings as the inaugural director of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which is set to open in December.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi announced on August 5 the appointment of Dr. Valerie Hillings as the inaugural director of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which is set to open on December 11.
Hillings previously worked on the project from 2009 to 2018 as curator and associate director of curatorial affairs for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation's Abu Dhabi initiative. In her new role, she will oversee the museum's exhibitions, public programme and strategic direction.
The museum's building and surrounding area will span 80,000 square metres and house 30 galleries. Its collection will focus on modern and contemporary art from the 1960s to the present, with new commissions and ongoing research aimed at connecting West Asia, North Africa, South Asia and the wider region.
The appointment marks a key step in the long-awaited opening of the institution, one of several major museum projects launched in the region in recent years.
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- Guggenheim Museums and Foundation - Basın Bülteni · 5 August 2026
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