The president of the Louvre sounds the alarm on the dilapidation of the museum and asks for financial support

Water infiltration, temperature problems for the conservation of works… Laurence des Cars, president and director of the Louvre museum in Paris, is sounding the alarm about the dilapidation of the largest museum in the world, hoping to obtain support adequate financial.

In a note dated January 13 addressed to the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, revealed by The Parisian and that Agence France-Presse (AFP) was able to consult, the leader deplores, among other things, “the multiplication of damages in sometimes very degraded spaces”, « l’obsolescence [des] technical equipment »as well as “worrying temperature variations endangering the state of conservation of the works”.

“It is my duty to raise awareness on these issues as president and I have already done so on numerous occasions”she told a few journalists on Thursday January 23, on the sidelines of the presentation of a new exhibition at the Louvre.

If the room which houses The Mona Lisaadmired every day by around 20,000 visitors, is not affected by the damage, this is not the case for other parts of the building, in the Sully wing, a source close to the matter confirmed to AFP . This vast space, which extends over four levels, houses masterpieces by Jean Siméon Chardin and Antoine Watteau. In November 2023, an exhibition dedicated to the drawings of Claude Gillot had to be closed and moved a few days after its opening due to flooding in the Clock Room, where his works were exhibited, according to the museum.

Questioned by AFP, the Elysée announced that the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, had been ” alert “ and that he had “exchanged on several occasions with the minister and the museum management”. Il “will speak soon”added a source close to the matter.

In his note, Laurence des Cars also mentions the glass pyramid, inaugurated in 1989, “structurally outdated” in a building designed to welcome four million visitors per year but which welcomed nearly nine million in 2024 (including almost 80% foreign tourists) and ten million before the covid crisis. Other complaints: the lack of relaxation and catering areas, as well as sanitary facilities below international standards.

Power outages and crumbling paint

This situation 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 a 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 lack of 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, who also denounces the suppression of “more than 200 jobs in ten years”.

At least “100 million euros of investments would be necessary, in particular for priority restoration work, of which only 26 million are guaranteed in 2024, the rest having to be spread out until 2032, due to lack of budget”another source close to the matter told AFP. In 2024, the Louvre benefited from 96 million euros in state subsidies, according to the Ministry of Culture, which is less than in previous years according to the figures provided by the museum (103 million in 2023 and 111 million in 2022).

In 2023, it generated 161 million euros in own revenue (141 million in 2022) thanks to ticketing, sponsorship and the rental of its spaces. Added to this are 83 million euros in revenue from its brand licenses, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi. All figures for 2024 have not yet been made public, according to the museum.

Like many public institutions, it is relying more and more on its own resources, with increased privatization of its spaces, including the Salle des Estates (which houses The Mona Lisa), and seeks to increase those resulting from patronage. On March 4, the museum will organize its annual dinner for its patrons aimed at raising funds, like the MET gala in New York, with, it hopes, a number of international celebrities including the muses of major houses sewing.

The Minister of Culture, interviewed by the press in Paris, also mentioned her plan to increase prices for non-European tourists. “I wanted a differentiated pricing policy”said Rachida Dati, who wants to see it applied to the 1^is January 2026.