The Arab World Institute in Paris, often known as the Institut du monde arabe or IMA, has appointed Anne-Claire Legendre—a French diplomat near president Emmanuel Macron—to switch Jack Lang as chair. Legendre, 46, who’s Macron’s adviser for the Center East and North Africa, would be the first girl to guide the establishment since its creation, as a centre for the research of the tradition of the Arab and Islamic World, in 1987.
Legendre’s appointment follows the resignation of Jack Lang, 86, who has led the IMA for the previous 13 years and is now the goal of an investigation over his ties to the convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. On Monday, there have been surreal scenes on the IMA as Lang held a leaving ceremony whereas police raided his workplace, in addition to his residence. “It’s a bit unusual,” he stated to the 100 or so members of workers and friends, who might see law enforcement officials coming and going with computer systems and telephones, “however it’s alright, I’ve nothing to cover.”
Lang, whose identify seems 673 instances within the Epstein recordsdata, maintained he was “fully harmless” and “knew nothing of Epstein’s horrific crimes”. Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor in 2008. He died in jail in 2019 in what was dominated a suicide, whereas awaiting trial on federal intercourse trafficking prices. Lang denies any involvement in Prytanee, an offshore artwork dealing firm within the Virgin Islands that, in accordance with the web site Mediapart, was arrange by Epstein with Lang’s daughter Caroline, with a $1.4m deposit.
Jack Lang’s lawyer, Laurent Merlet, informed the French radio station RTL that his shopper “may need given his opinion on artistic endeavors” however by no means acquired a cent from the corporate. Caroline Lang, who just lately resigned because the director of France’s impartial movie and TV producers’ union, stated she too “by no means benefited from the corporate”. Jack Lang is presently below police safety after dealing with a flurry of social media threats.
Legendre has had a protracted diplomatic profession, centred on the Arab world. She was ambassador to Kuwait, in 2020 and 2021, earlier than changing into spokeswoman for the Overseas Ministry and becoming a member of the presidential palace in 2023.
The IMA, established by the governments of France and 18 Arab international locations in a constructing designed by Jean Nouvel on the financial institution of the Seine, will rejoice its fortieth anniversary subsequent 12 months. The 27,000 sq. m institute contains an artwork gallery, auditorium, library and restaurant, and data round 750,000 guests yearly. It has just lately held daring exhibitions on Palestine, the Jewish and Christian historic presence within the Center East, and visions of homosexual love by Arab artists.
The Arab World Institute in Paris
Picture: HJBC
After the collectors Claude and France Lemand donated 1,677 works by 148 artists, Jack Lang introduced a serious renovation to show the institute’s monumental assortment of two,500 work, 900 antiquities and manuscripts in addition to 4,500 pictures. Despite a €6m state subsidy, he was unable to boost the complete €27m required for the renovation, and opted as a substitute for a extra restricted rehang. The brand new gallery is now scheduled to open on the finish of 2027.
