Despite coronavirus, museums are starting to see more clearly as for their reopening… And among the leads to follow, the one that Paris Musées will set up for its museums and unveiled to our peers at Télérama by Paris deputy mayor for Culture Christophe Girard. Then, museums in the city will reopen in mid-June given phase 2 of the containment exit plan goes as planned.
Places will yet have to adapt and opt for “some rooms and some of their collections to make sure the goal of 10-people successive groups in the public area is never exceeded” as Girard explains.
Christophe Girard also announced he was preparing – as for those museums and alongside four curators – “concerts, dance, movie, installations and shows, outside, and especially in parks, gardens and small squares” for August. Collections to discover, concerts and other events that shall be organized in “successive groups of ten” and offer “another way” of enjoying art while upholding health instructions. A genuine issue for museums and a trial run for all those who will reopen later and looking to see what works and what does not.
Whatever happens, “the wild quest for records of visits in main exhibitions in Paris these past few years will be shaken up” he says. He adds: “I think it is horrible, this race to the cultural shallot that served no purpose to better look at works of art. We must get out of these cultural industry criteria and reeducate ourselves to see and be in the discover, take the time to walk around”. He concludes: “museums must rethink massification. We grew too damaged. And the cultural democratization won nothing”.
The city's museums to fully reopen over time
This past Thursday May 7th, Paris Musées has brought details as of the reopening of its museums. The goal is to reopen several museums from June 16th such as:
The Musée Bourdelle, a free museum-workshop dedicated to the sculptor in Paris
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The Musée de la Libération de Paris, a visit to the heart of the Resistance
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Musée Cernuschi: the free museum, the jewel of Asian arts in Paris
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The Paris Catacombs to reopen by mid-June
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The Maison de Balzac, home of the famous writer, and its secret garden overlooking the Eiffel Tower
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The Petit Palais in Paris and its hidden treasures, the free museum, opening hours and exhibitions
The Petit Palais, home to the Musées des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris, is a true architectural masterpiece. Designed by Charles Girault for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, this museum is a treasure trove. And since admission is free, you'd be wrong not to take advantage of it. [Read more]
Yet, as for the musée d'Art moderne de la Ville de Paris and the musée Cognacq-Jay, they are expected to reopen in July.
Starting from June 16th, Paris Musées wishes to open the In the Drawing Room exhibition at the Petit Palais displayed until October 4, 2020. As for the Crypte archéologique de l'Ile de la Cité, it will display the Notre Dame de Paris, de Victor Hugo à Viollet le Duc exhibition, after Notre Dame parvis reopen.
Last but not least, as for the Musée Carnavalet, the Palais Galliera and the Victor Hugo's house, they will gradually resume renovations to reopen in the next months. As for the musée Zadkine, it will reopen this Fall with the Chagall-Zadkine exhibition.
Note that small museums will reopen from May 11th. And as for other big museums in Paris such as the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay, no statement has been made by the deputy mayor. We shall wait for an official statement from the Ministry of Culture or museums to know more.
