The president of the Louvre Museum in Paris, Laurence Des Cars, alerted the French government to the state of the museum, pointing to a “multiplication of damage” and the need for major work, according to a “confidential note” revealed Wednesday by the French press.
This note, dated January 13 and addressed to the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, denounces the harsh reality of the state
buildings of the most visited museum in the world, too busy
and many of whom are reaching a worrying level of obsolescence
reports the newspaper The Parisian.
The document, partly reproduced on the daily’s website, evokes a multiplication of damages in the spaces of the museum which are sometimes very degraded
.
Some are no longer waterproof while others experience significant temperature variations, endangering the conservation of the works.
it is added.
Another complaint: the physical test
to which visitors to the Louvre are subjected, deprived of space allowing you to take a break
.
The food supply and sanitary facilities are insufficient, well below international standards. Signage must be completely redesigned
it is detailed.
The newspaper The Parisian also cites the significant gaps
attributed to the design
of the great glass pyramid of the Louvre, a space inaugurated in 1988, very inhospitable
THE hot days
and at phonic treatment […] very mediocre
.
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The Mona Lisaby Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the works attracting visitors to the Louvre.
Photo: Leonardo da Vinci
A separate room for the Mona Lisa?
The note further emphasizes the need toquestion
the presentation of the Mona Lisa in the Salle des Estates
the largest in the museum. Visited every day by around 20,000 people, this room is not affected by damage.
In April 2024, Laurence Des Cars had already announced that she was considering improving the exhibition conditions for the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, which she believes deserves a separate room.
The opening of a second entrance to the museum in order to relieve congestion of the main one, located under the Pyramid, is also among his projects.
The main entrance was originally designed to accommodate four to five million visitors per year
according to the Louvre, whose attendance will approach nine million people in 2024.
Generally speaking, this situation can no longer tolerate the status quo
argues Laurence Des Cars at the conclusion of his note.
It is my duty to raise awareness as president on these issues and I have already done so on numerous occasions.
she told a few journalists on Thursday, on the sidelines of the presentation of a new exhibition at the Louvre.
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The Louvre Pyramid in Paris is one of the works of the famous Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei.
Photo: Reuters / Charles Platiau
President Macron alerted
Contacted by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Louvre and the Ministry of Culture did not react on Wednesday evening.
Questioned by AFP, the Élysée indicated that the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, had been alert
on the subject and that he had exchanged on several occasions with the minister and the museum management
. Il will speak soon
on this subject, added a source close to the matter.
The state in which the Louvre is located is far from living up to its universal influence
lamented to AFP Christian Galani, member of the national office of the CGT Culture union, of which he is the representative at the Louvre.
According to him, not a day goes by without seeing the deterioration of the building, with paint crumbling, rooms, storage rooms and work spaces sometimes flooded, power outages and late payment to service providers due to fault. budget
.
Due to a lack of staff, rooms are regularly closed and the working conditions of agents deteriorate with temperatures around 10-12 degrees sometimes in winter, and more than 30 degrees in summer.
affirmed Mr. Galani, denouncing in passing the suppression of more than 200 jobs in ten years
.
At least 100 million euros [près de 150 millions $ CA] investments would be necessary, in particular for priority restoration work, of which only 26 million [environ 39 millions $ CA] are assured in 2024, the rest having to be spread out until 2032, due to lack of budget
another source close to the matter told AFP.
A big fundraising evening in March
Like many public institutions, the Louvre Museum is relying more and more on its own resources, with increased privatization of its spaces, including the room housing the Mona Lisa, and seeks to rely on patronage.
On March 4, the museum will organize its annual dinner for its patrons aimed at raising funds, like the grand gala of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, with, it hopes, a number of international celebrities including the muses of major fashion houses.
