Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Appoints Inaugural Director

The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi announced on Thursday the appointment of Dr. Valerie Hillings as the inaugural Director of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. She assumes her role effective immediately.

Dr. Hillings will oversee the museum's artistic vision, collection development, and exhibition programming. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is a key component of Abu Dhabi's cultural district on Saadiyat Island, intended to foster local and international cultural exchange.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Hillings held several leadership positions within the Guggenheim Foundation, serving as a curator and program director. In these roles, she contributed to the development of numerous exhibitions and publications, focusing on modern and contemporary art.

The museum building, designed by architect Frank Gehry, has progressed through various construction phases. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is slated to open to the public in the future, with its collection concentrating on global modern and contemporary art, with an emphasis on art from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.