The Musée du Louvre is facing yet another challenge as a recent water leak has caused significant damage to hundreds of books on-site. This incident has further highlighted the urgent need for renovations at the iconic Paris institution. In response to the ongoing issues at the museum, three culture unions representing Louvre staff have issued a joint notice of a potential strike starting on Monday, December 15.
The water damage, which occurred on November 26, affected a library within the museum’s Egyptian Antiquities department, leading to the loss of between 300 and 400 books. While Francis Steinbock, the deputy director general of the Louvre, confirmed that no patrimony works were damaged, the incident has raised concerns about the museum’s infrastructure.
This water leak comes on the heels of a temporary closure of a Greek Ceramics gallery due to structural concerns just 10 days prior. These events have further underscored the warnings issued by Louvre Director Laurence des Cars in a leaked memo to the Ministry of Culture earlier this year regarding the deteriorating state of the museum.
Des Cars’s memo prompted the development of a comprehensive renovation plan known as “Nouvelle Renaissance” to address the Louvre’s structural issues, improve visitor experience, and enhance security measures over the next decade. As part of the funding for these renovations, visitors from outside the European Economic Area will face a 45% increase in entry fees starting in January 2026.
The proposed fee hike has been met with criticism from the Syndicat National des Musées et Domaines-Confédération Générale du Travail and the Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail unions, who have called it unjust and discriminatory. These unions, along with the Solidaires Unitaires Démocratiques, have submitted a notice to the French Minister of Culture outlining their demands and threatening a strike if their concerns are not addressed.
In addition to opposing the fee increase, the unions are calling for a reevaluation of the allocation of funds from Abu Dhabi’s licensing of the Louvre brand to prioritize renovations over the construction of a new visitor entry area. They are also advocating for the hiring of additional staff in surveillance and reception roles, greater inclusion of frontline staff in decision-making processes, and measures to address overwork and understaffing issues.
The unions’ demands reflect longstanding grievances regarding working conditions at the Louvre, including a previous labor strike in June. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the museum administration will respond to the unions’ concerns and whether a strike will indeed take place.
For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned to Hyperallergic for the latest information.
