Saudi prince gives £11m to the Louvre for a new Islamic wing

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By Michelle Doyle in Paris
Published: 29 July 2005

A Saudi prince has donated over €17m (£11.7m) for a new Islamic art wing to be built at the Louvre in Paris.

Prince Walid bin Talal, who is reputed to be the fourth richest man in the world, has made one of the biggest donations in France's cultural history in order to help realise the project.

Prince Walid believes that the addition of a specific wing to showcase Islamic art at the Louvre, one of the world's busiest museums with more than seven million visitors a year, will help promote understanding of Islam as a religion of humanity and tolerance.

The Louvre has more than 10,000 artworks from the Islamic world, a collection comparable to that of the British Museum in London, but has had to keep 3,000 pieces in storage because of a lack of space.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article302262.ece

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1. Cool

Islamic art is really beautiful. The geometric patterns and gorgeous caligraphy will add significantly to the Louvre.

[sleipnir]

2. Will it be a "Radical" Wing?

:silly: