Museum of Modern Art in Luxembourg

The Museum of Modern Art of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg (French Musée d'art moderne Grand-Duc Jean, abbreviated MUDAM) is located on the northeastern outskirts of Luxembourg City in the new administrative district of Clausen. The idea to establish a museum of modern art was proposed in 1989 by then-Prime Minister Jacques Santer. However, it was not until 1997 that a suitable location was found on the site of the former Thüngen fortifications, which were intended to protect the Luxembourg Castle, but are now part of the city park Dräi Eechelen. The design of the museum was entrusted to the then eighty-year-old American architect of Chinese descent Ieoh Ming Pei, who came up with a clear geometric solution in glass and stone. The museum, which ultimately cost 100 million dollars, was officially opened on July 1, 2006, in the presence of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, after whom the building is named. Since Luxembourg currently lacks any public collections of modern art and the museum's budget does not allow for the acquisition of modern post-war art, it focuses on contemporary creation. Currently, the museum's roster exceeds more than one hundred artists. MUDAM is visited by 115,000 spectators annually, which is more than the total population of Luxembourg.