The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Picasso Museum in Paris will close on Saturday, 24 October, as French authorities prepare for possible renewed violence during planned demonstrations following widespread unrest last weekend.
France’s Ministry of Culture confirmed the decision in a statement to the Associated Press (AP), clarifying that the precautionary measure also affects other major museums in the French capital.
The ministry has urged all cultural institutions under its authority to take the necessary steps to protect visitors, staff and works of art.
Museums take precautions after October 17 unrest
The closures follow serious disturbances and looting on 17 October, when demonstrations in French cities escalated into clashes with police.
The unrest included arson, damage to shops and widespread looting, raising concerns about further violence during the next round of demonstrations.
Although a protest in Paris on Thursday evening ended peacefully, Saturday’s planned mobilisation is expected to be considerably larger, increasing concern among authorities.
Art Basel Paris cancels weekend programme
The security concerns have also affected Art Basel Paris, one of the major international events in the contemporary art calendar.
The exhibition, held at the historic Grand Palais and featuring 211 galleries from around the world, has cancelled its programme for Saturday and Sunday, bringing this year’s event to an early close.
The fair opened to the general public on Friday, following two days of invitation-only access. Organisers said the decision was made because of the risks associated with the planned demonstrations.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and the safety of everyone involved in the fair remains our highest priority,” the organisers said in a statement.
Ticket holders for the weekend will be contacted by the organisers.
New York-based artist Drake Carr, who is presenting work through Mariposa Gallery, compared Art Basel to the Olympics of the art world, highlighting its importance to the international art scene.
Art collectors back decision to close
Indian art collector Saloni Doshi, who travelled to Paris for the event, told AP she had felt concerned the previous Saturday after seeing fires and panic in the streets.
She said friends had called to ask whether it was safe for her to remain in the French capital.
Although the early closure disrupted the event, Doshi supported the decision, stressing that social movements and citizens’ freedom should not be sidelined because of inconvenience to visitors attending an art fair.
Antoine Donzot and Élisa Rigoulot, owners of the exo exo gallery, also described the decision as reasonable in a written message to AP, citing the urgency of the social demands being raised in France.
Paris is now preparing for Saturday’s demonstrations, with major cultural venues suspending operations as concerns persist over a possible return of violence.
Also read: Thousands of students take to Vienna streets over university funding
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