Drake’s DreamCrew has made a US$100 million investment in Luna Luna, a dormant traveling art carnival featuring a Keight Haring carousel, a Ferris Wheel painted by Jean-Michel Basquiat, artwork by Salvadore Dalí, and more.

In 1987, Viennese multimedia artist André Heller came up with the idea of merging avant-garde and popular culture by putting on a functioning carnival designed by all the big artists of the day. After the marvelous kick-off in Hamburg, Germany, in the summer, Luna Luna got caught up in litigation and lawsuits. Soon, all the rides were locked away in shipping containers for the next 30 years to collect dust and Heller had given up on Luna Luna.

Enter Drake and his DreamCrew.

A friend found the story of Luna Luna in 2019 and brought it to Drake. Almost immediately after the confirmation that the storage containers still existed and worked, DreamCrew was in. In a statement, Drake said, “When I first heard about Luna Luna I was blown away. It’s such a unique and special way to experience art. This is a big idea and opportunity that centers around what we love most - bringing people together.”

While Heller won’t be part of the Luna Luna revamp because he tried to pass off a piece he made himself as a Basquiat, he is thrilled that there will be a North American tour in 2023 and an international tour in 2024. “I am passing the baton to the partners of Luna Luna, who have the energy, vision, and respect to keep the spirit of Luna Luna alive,” says Heller in a statement. “It feels miraculous that the artworks from Luna Luna will again see the light of day, and I am honored that a new generation around the world will experience the wonder of Luna Luna for many years to come.”

Check out the Luna Luna Art Amusement Park video below.

[News from Smithsonian Magazine and DesignBoom]