Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's investment authority GAFI hosts forum with China to link business, innovation leaders    CBE governor meets Beijing delegation to discuss economic, financial cooperation    Egypt's Gypto Pharma, US Dawa Pharmaceuticals sign strategic alliance    Egypt to unveil 'national economic development narrative' in June, focused on key economic targets    Egypt's Foreign Minister calls new Somali counterpart, reaffirms support    Italy's consumer, business confidence decline in April '25    "5,000 Years of Civilizational Dialogue" theme for Korea-Egypt 30th anniversary event    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Angola's Lourenço discuss ties, African security in Cairo talks    Two new recycling projects launched in Egypt with EGP 1.7bn investment    Egypt's ambassador to Palestine congratulates Al-Sheikh on new senior state role    Egypt's TMG eyes $17bn sales from potential major Iraq project    Egypt's Health Min. discusses childhood cancer initiative with WHO    Egypt pleads before ICJ over Israel's obligations in occupied Palestine    Asia-Pacific stocks rise on Wall Street cues    Egypt's EDA discusses local pharmaceutical manufacturing with Bayer    Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo    Egypt expresses condolences to Canada over Vancouver incident    Cairo's Madinaty and Katameya Dunes Golf Courses set to host 2025 Pan Arab Golf Championship from May 7-10    Egypt's Health Min. strengthens healthcare ties with Bayer    Egypt's Ministry of Health launches trachoma elimination campaign in 7 governorates    EHA explores strategic partnership with Türkiye's Modest Group    Between Women Filmmakers' Caravan opens 5th round of Film Consultancy Programme for Arab filmmakers    Fourth Cairo Photo Week set for May, expanding across 14 Downtown locations    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Ancient military commander's tomb unearthed in Ismailia    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Egypt to host global celebration for Grand Egyptian Museum opening on July 3    Ancient Egyptian royal tomb unearthed in Sohag    Egypt hosts World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay for 3rd consecutive year    Egyptian Minister praises Nile Basin consultations, voices GERD concerns    49th Hassan II Trophy and 28th Lalla Meryem Cup Officially Launched in Morocco    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Paris Olympics opening draws record viewers    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Revamping Tahrir's treasure house
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 23 - 12 - 2010

Tht 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.
A permanent open-air exhibition on the east side of the museum has also been established, displaying a number of sarcophagi and statuary and architectural elements from ancient Egyptian tombs and temples.
On completion of this development project visitors will enter the museum from the main entrance gate in Tahrir Square and exit via the side gate next to the Mariette mausoleum. This phase of the Egyptian Museum Development Project is one part of a multi- phase plan to transform the museum into a beautiful space for the display of ancient Egyptian art. The project will be complete after parts of the existing Egyptian Museum collection have been transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Giza Plateau, which is now in its initial stages.
The man responsible for the museum section at the Supreme Council of Antiquity's secretary-general's office is Mohamed Mahmoud, who says that the Egyptian Museum basement has also been given a welcome face-lift as part of the project. It has been transformed into a research centre for scientific testing, equipped with a DNA processing laboratory, documentation centre and administrative sector. New, high-tech showcases are also provided, as well as sensors to control security and humidity levels.
Since it opened in 1902, the neo-classical edifice of the Egyptian Museum has been the home of all ancient Egyptian artefacts unearthed at the nation's archaeological sites. This has led to the overcrowding of its various galleries, even down to the basement, which for most of its history was used as a storeroom.
Farouk Hosni, the minister of culture, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the redesigning project would transform the Egyptian Museum into a "cultural lighthouse" that would help Egyptians to "rediscover the meaning of their identity and the features of the Egyptian personality". It will also refresh the museum's role as an educational institution that will help revive the cultural awareness of the Egyptian people.
Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said the project aimed at redesigning the museum both inside and out. "Redesigning the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir will re-envision the space in which the museum's collection will be displayed, and develop exhibitions with maximum educational impact on the public," Hawass said.
A new scenario will be organised and a detailed plan of the new displays within the exhibition space will be implemented. The renovation will accommodate the modernisation of the museum's technological and structural facilities.
Improvements to the museum's facilities will include the installation of new security and fire safety systems, as well as an air-conditioning system and a lighting system to include natural and artificial light sources. Updated communications technology will encompass connections for access to external and internal data networks.
Hawass said that the project would also include the implementation of a number of training courses to enhance the professional skills of the museum's curators and restorers.
The former director of the Egyptian Museum, Wafaa El-Seddiq, said areas of the project would give more attention to personnel working in the museum's library and administration, and would help enhance their skills in cataloguing procedures, services to patrons and the conservation of library materials.


Clic here to read the story from its source.