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Paris: Louvre, Orsay, Picasso Museums to Close Saturday Ahead of Protests
France's Culture Ministry announced Thursday evening that the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée National Picasso-Paris, Orangerie and Grand Palais will shut all day Oct 24; Art Basel Paris cancels its final two days.
Why it matters
France's Ministry of Culture announced on the evening of Oct 22 that cultural institutions under its supervision will close all day Saturday, Oct 24, as a precaution. The closure list includes the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée National Picasso-Paris, the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Grand Palais; the Fondation Cartier closes Saturday and Sunday, the Fondation Louis Vuitton closes Saturday.
Details
The ministry asked institutions to take measures for the “safety of visitors”, the “protection of agents” and the “preservation of works”. The fallout reaches beyond museums: Art Basel Paris, held at the Grand Palais, has cancelled its final two days (Saturday and Sunday).
The backdrop is renewed nationwide protests on Oct 24: the Oct 17 demonstrations drew 500,000+ people, with looting and around 2,400 arrests. Authorities are deploying 20% more security personnel than on Oct 17, cancelling leave, and sending in Sentinelle soldiers plus GIGN and RAID units. President Macron said non-union demonstrations will be banned “wherever possible”.
Sources
Multiple outlets citing France's Ministry of Culture release: Hyperallergic, FTN News, Brussels Signal; Franceinfo.
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