The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in New Delhi, recognized as one of India's premier private art institutions, has announced the appointment of Manuel Rabaté as its inaugural chief executive and director. Previously, Rabaté served as the founding director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, a position he held since the museum's inception in 2016.
This appointment arrives as KNMA gears up for a significant transformation, relocating from its current site within a shopping mall to a newly constructed museum complex near Indira Gandhi International Airport. Designed by David Adjaye Associates, the expansive new facility is projected to open within the next three years, as confirmed by a museum representative.
Kiran Nadar, the founder of KNMA and its chairperson, has emphasized the upcoming complex as the largest museum and cultural center in South Asia. The new site will feature numerous exhibition galleries, performance and theater spaces, a library, an archive, and an education center.
This role marks Rabaté's first venture into the private museum sector. Before his time at Louvre Abu Dhabi, he was at the helm of France Muséums, a consultancy established to develop the museum following an intergovernmental agreement between France and the United Arab Emirates. Earlier in his career, he held significant positions at both the Louvre and the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Rabaté stated, "I have always had a keen interest in South Asia and in India in particular, both for its cultural richness and its institutional life. I am excited to be part of a project that will change the museum landscape of the subcontinent."
At KNMA, he will collaborate with the museum's current leadership, including chief curator Roobina Karode and Deepanjana Klein, director of acquisitions and development. His appointment aims to infuse global museum leadership into the institution while maintaining a regional focus.
During his tenure at Louvre Abu Dhabi, Rabaté was instrumental in overseeing the construction and launch of Jean Nouvel's iconic building, expanding the museum's permanent collection, and enhancing its exhibition program, thereby establishing a curatorial framework in a region where such roles were previously scarce.
Rabaté is set to conclude his role at Louvre Abu Dhabi on March 7 and is expected to assume his new position in New Delhi in the first half of this year. The Louvre Abu Dhabi has announced that it is currently searching for his successor and has expressed gratitude for his remarkable contributions.