Prestige, power, and the politics of Louvre leadership: 'They think they are kings of the world'

Key Concepts

• Louvre Museum Heist: A recent spectacular theft of jewels from the museum.
• Security Deficiencies: Alleged weaknesses in the museum's security systems.
• Structural Weaknesses: Identified problems with the building's beams, leading to gallery closure.
• Colonnade of Peru Project: A proposed, expensive new entrance and exhibition space on the east side of the Louvre.
• Priority Management: The allocation of funds and resources by the Louvre's management.
• Government Oversight: The role of the French government and President in supervising the museum.
• Museum of African Art (Kebroni): An alternative location suggested for African art currently housed at the Louvre.
• Grand Palais: A refurbished exhibition space that could potentially be used by the Louvre.

Laurent Deass's Appearance Before the French Parliamentary Culture Committee

Laurent Deass, the director of the Louvre Museum, is scheduled to appear before a French parliamentary culture committee to address questions regarding a recent jewel heist at the museum. This appearance follows a previous testimony before the Senate, where she stated she had previously raised concerns about security deficiencies.

Art Historian's Perspective on Deass's Testimony

Dier, an art historian and editor-in-chief of La Tribion Delar, expressed skepticism about Deass's upcoming appearance. He believes her testimony will not differ significantly from her previous Senate appearance because she maintains she acted appropriately, despite evidence to the contrary. Dier cited a report by the Court of Auditors, which he described as "disastrous" for the Louvre, highlighting that the museum had not fulfilled its obligations.

Alleged Failings of Laurent Deass and the Louvre

Dier identified a primary failing as Deass's strong push for a new, expensive entrance project on the east side of the Louvre, near the Colonnade of Peru. This project, intended to include exhibition rooms and a space for the Mona Lisa underground, is estimated to cost a significant amount of money. While the Louvre possesses substantial funds (approximately 300 million euros), Dier argues that these funds are not being allocated to essential areas like museum reflection, security, and historical monument works. Instead, the focus is on this large project, with a reliance on patronage for other needs, leading to a "priority management" problem.

Systemic Issues vs. Current Management Responsibility

Dier clarified that while Deass is not solely responsible, as former president director Jean Martinez was also criticized, she has failed to address critical issues during her four-year tenure. He specifically pointed to her convincing French President Emmanuel Macron to support the expensive, poorly studied, and unfunded Colonnade project, deeming it "nonsense" and unworkable. Dier holds both Macron and Deass responsible for this situation.

Structural Deficiencies and Museum Condition

The Louvre announced it would close a gallery due to structural weaknesses in its beams, a concern that museum staff had reportedly raised previously. Dier confirmed that the Louvre, being an old historical monument, faces numerous such problems. He explained that the proposed "reflection of the museum" project includes addressing these structural issues, with an allocation of 450 million euros for security and renovations. However, the lack of funding for the Colonnade project diverts resources, exacerbating existing problems like the one in the gallery.

Lack of Government Oversight

Dier asserted that there is a lack of government oversight for the Louvre. He stated that the French President, rather than the Ministry of Culture, directly oversees the museum. The Ministry of Culture, in his view, should ensure that funds are spent appropriately on essential maintenance and security rather than on unfeasible projects like the Colonnade.

Public Perception and Institutional Issues

The recent heist has contributed to a public perception of the Louvre as an institution in disarray. While other cultural institutions in France may face challenges, Dier believes the Louvre is the primary problem among major museums. He contrasted it with the Centre Pompidou (currently closed for renovations) and the Musée d'Orsay, which, despite having different issues, are functioning effectively due to competent leadership.

The Louvre's Fame and Potential Arrogance

Dier speculated that the Louvre's status as the world's most famous museum might contribute to its problems. He suggested that this fame could lead to a sense of entitlement or "king of the world" mentality among its leadership, potentially hindering effective management.

Proposed Solutions

Dier proposed several solutions to address the Louvre's current predicament:

• Abandon the Colonnade Project: He urged the abandonment of the expensive new entrance project.
• Less Expensive Alternatives: Focus on more cost-effective solutions for necessary improvements.
• Relocate African Art: Suggests moving the masterpieces of African art from the Louvre to the Museum of African Art (Kebroni), as the Louvre is not primarily an African art museum.
• Utilize Existing Exhibition Spaces: Proposes using the refurbished exhibition rooms at the Grand Palais, which cost 500 million euros, for exhibitions instead of building new ones at the Louvre.
• Multiple Smaller Entrances: Advocate for several smaller, more practical entrances rather than a single large one.

Conclusion

The discussion highlights significant concerns regarding the Louvre Museum's management, financial priorities, and structural integrity, exacerbated by a recent jewel heist. The art historian criticizes the current leadership's focus on an extravagant new entrance project at the expense of essential security and maintenance, a situation he believes is enabled by a lack of effective government oversight and potentially fueled by the museum's immense global fame. Proposed solutions emphasize a return to practical priorities, the utilization of existing resources, and a re-evaluation of the museum's collection focus.