Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As a part of “Student Takeover Monday” programme, the Louvre Abu Dhabi opened its doors to GEMS Education students for exclusive access to the museum as well as tailored educational activities on Monday.
Held on a day the museum is closed to the public, and running until April 30, the initiative encourages creativity and learning through art, supported by curated resources for teachers.
The programme engaged the children in a range of educational activities inspired by the vast collection the museum has to offer.
Speaking to Aletihad, Maral Bedoyan, Education and Learning Resources Manager at Louvre Abu Dhabi, said the museum is turning into a vibrant learning space through this initiative.
“We launched it in 2019 to open the museum - on a day it is normally closed - to schools, universities and other educational bodies,” she said.
The goal is to give students and teachers freedom to explore and engage with the museum in their own way.
“They have become more active in designing their own activities - workshops, booklets, performances. The day was special, we had music, dance and drama. It always feels new.”
Bedoyan stressed the importance of collaboration with educators.
“Teachers shape the experience with our team. It is a true partnership that impacts the museum, educators and, most importantly, students. The museum becomes a space for fun, creativity and discovery.”
Noura AlMansoori, Museum Educator at Louvre Abu Dhabi, told Aletihad: “We welcomed students from GEMS World Academy schools, along with schools from their cluster - six in total. They experienced the museum as an extension of their classroom, engaging in educational encounters within our permanent galleries and participating in a workshop held right there in the space. We also opened the ‘Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power’ exhibition for them, alongside all three floors of the Children’s Museum, which currently explores the theme of space.”
The day was designed to break the boundaries of conventional education.
“We really wanted to show that the museum is a space where learning can happen in a fun and inspiring way,” AlMansoori explains.
The museum transformed into a classroom, with hands-on activities, workshops and yoga under the dome inspired by its intricate design.
The experience encouraged students to connect various subjects - math, art, history and geometry - through the artworks they witnessed.
“Students were learning without realising it,” she added.
From sketching and meditating to handling materials like bronze, their visit became an opportunity to absorb knowledge organically.
With designated zones for different age groups -grades 1 to 12 - students could engage at their own level.
AlMansouri said the highlight was under the dome, where “25 student performances took place across five different zones” featuring drums, dance, choirs, piano and more, transforming the museum into a dynamic stage for expression.
