more than 300 works from the museum are exceptionally installed at the Petit Palais in Avignon

As part of the festivities of Avignon, Land of Culture 2025, and the 50th anniversary of the Petit Palais (museum dedicated to medieval and early Renaissance painting and sculpture) in 2026, the Louvre museum is intensifying its scientific partnership with the City of Avignon. This collaboration, marked by a new agreement signed on April 2, 2024, aims to revitalize the exceptional deposit of Italian primitive paintings and medieval collections of the Petit Palais. Laurence des Cars, president and director of the Louvre, shares the ambitions and philosophy of this major cultural project.

Why did the Louvre Museum sign a new partnership agreement on April 2, 2024 with the City of Avignon and its mayor Cécile Helle?

Laurence des Cars Former archbishops’ palace, the Petit Palais d’Avignon can be proud of having hosted in 1976 the most important deposit of the Louvre in the province: the 320 paintings of Italian primitives dating from the 13th to the 16th century from the collection of the Marquis Campana. To this was added a deposit of part of the medieval collections of the Calvet museum. Born from the visionary policy of Michel Laclotte [président-directeur du Louvre jusqu’en 1993, ndlr] and at the will of the former mayor of Avignon Henri Duffaut, this pilot experiment in cultural decentralization had unfortunately become less visible over time.

It is now important for us to give new impetus to this partnership by reaffirming our scientific support. We must also remain faithful and preserve the very refined spirit of the museography imagined by the architect André Hermant and directly inspired by the cult scenographies of Carlo Scarpa, which is now part of the DNA of the Petit Palais. Giving more clarity to the route through the rooms, improving mediation with the public, writing a guide to visiting the collections, creating a real dynamic between the Petit Palais and the Palais des Papes by constructing a story between these two places… these are some of the one of the priorities jointly displayed by the Louvre and the City of Avignon, which has just recruited a curator in charge of accomplishing this heavy task by 2026.

What philosophy underlies this project?

Each time the Louvre extends beyond its walls, it must have a unique identity. The Louvre Abu Dhabi responds to a desire for universalism; the Louvre-Lens advocates decompartmentalization of the collections and welcomes the vast majority of visitors from Hauts-de-France. The Louvre in Avignon is also a very strong gesture. Thus, far from being limited to attaching the “Louvre” brand to the Petit Palais, this project meets a dual objective: to make this emanation of the Louvre more understandable while making the Avignon public aware of the exceptional richness of this museum heritage.

How will the Louvre Museum implement this partnership in the coming years?

It is appropriate, firstly, to reconnect the thread of the history of the Louvre with that of the city of Avignon through significant events. In addition to organizing joint exhibitions, we are considering an ambitious loan and deposit rotation policy with the Paintings department. The Louvre will also continue its advisory missions regarding the acquisition of works and restoration. This partnership must have a scientific basis, and must respond to a deep commitment from both partners.
OFFICIAL FILM AVIGNON TERRE DE CULTURE 2025