The Tate has embarked on a relationship with Oman that is expected to provide the UK museum with several million pounds. This money is being earmarked for Tate Modern’s £215m extension, of which just over half has now been raised.
The Tate has lent six key paintings by Gainsborough, Stubbs, Constable, Turner, Millais and Sargent for “The Art of Seeing Nature: Masterpieces from Tate Britain” in Oman (until 25 January).
The British pictures are on show at the Sayyid Faisal bin Ali Museum in the capital, Muscat. The exhibition opened on 30 November, during a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. The museum, which was established in 2008 in a former theatre, is centred around a display of traditional weaponry. It is named after Oman’s first minister of heritage and culture, who died in 2003.
The loan of the paintings represents the initial step in a long-term relationship between the Tate and Oman’s ministry of heritage and culture, which will involve further loans and the provision of technical assistance.
Oman’s undersecretary for heritage and culture, Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahruqi, told The Art Newspaper that his country is “heavily involved” in upgrading its existing museums and investing in new ones. It wants to make use of the Tate’s experience of museum management, human resources, public relations and fundraising, co-operating in “joint ventures that can lead to mutual benefits and cultural exchange”.
Tate director Nicholas Serota told Bloomberg News that Oman’s financial contribution will be “a few million” pounds.
Oman’s major cultural project is a new National Museum, which is under construction in the old town of Muscat. Designed by UK-based David Wright of Arts Architecture, the museum is due for completion at the end of this year.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'Tate gets Oman bonus'