Planning for Artefact Installation and the Challenges of Implementation: Behind the Scenes in the King Tutankhamun Gallery at the Grand Egyptian Museum

Abstract

ABSTRACT The King Tutankhamun gallery is one of the most magnificent galleries in the world, gathering the complete collection of the King in one place for the first time since its discovery in 1922. The gallery was designed to have an area of 7,500 m2 and to be equipped with state-of-the-art exhibition and preservation equipment. The aim was to develop a final resting place for the collection, which recasts its presentation and ensures its preservation. Therefore, an installation plan was established in May 2020 that would form and train a multidisciplinary team that could achieve the task within the projected time frame and would analyse and minimise the risks throughout the process. The installation, carried out by seven specialised teams, started in March 2021. Despite strict planning, the installation process encountered some on-site challenges that required prompt solutions. Continuous efforts were made to complete the installation process on time, particularly as the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown delayed the completion of works by the international companies contributing to the exhibition production, which compressed the installation time frame. This paper discusses the strategic planning of the installation process for this unique collection, which minimised risks to the collection and ensured the creation of a preservation-quality exhibit gallery, focusing particularly on the challenges faced in its implementation and the methodologies developed to address them.