The French Court of Auditors published this Thursday the report on the management of the Louvre Museum, less than a month after that of October 19. The organization, which prepared the document before the assault took place, covers the period from 2018 to 2024 and criticizes that, during all those years, the museum management prioritized the acquisition of works over security or improvement of the facilities. 2,754 pieces were purchased in eight years.
The museum “prioritized visible and attractive operations (particularly the acquisition of works) over the maintenance and renovation of buildings and facilities, especially security systems which, however, are essential to ensure the sustainable operation of the institution and guarantee satisfactory conditions for visitors,” says the document, which is more than 100 pages long.
During the period analyzed there have been two presidents: Jean-Luc Martínez, from 2013 to 2021, and Laurence des Cars, appointed that year and currently in charge. In these years, the museum only mobilized 27 million euros for maintenance work on the facilities and 60 million for restoration work. This contrasts with the 105.4 million committed for the acquisition of works. According to the Court of Auditors, the procurement budget “must be adjusted based on other financing needs.”
The report was presented by Pierre Moscovici, president of the Court of Auditors. “Our first observation is that the Louvre has fallen considerably behind in the modernization of its technical infrastructure and in the restoration of the palace, a delay that must be remedied as soon as possible. These investments are essential to guarantee the long-term viability of the institution,” he said in the presentation of the report.
He pointed out that the museum “did not become aware of the urgency of the situation until 2023”, after the Claude Gillot and Naples exhibition in Paris had to be closed early due to technical problems. The museum estimates the cost of the necessary renovation work at 480 million euros over ten years.
“The Louvre faces a paradox. Although its own resources have increased considerably during the period examined, its medium-term financial trajectory is fragile,” said Moscovici, who stressed that the museum “is not a victim of insufficient resources (…) The problems are not due to a decrease in its resources, which are considerable, but to the definition of its strategic direction.”
After the robbery of the Louvre on the 19th, the investigation continues. There is . At the moment what has not been found are the eight Crown jewels, which four assailants took by breaking the display cases where they were located with radials, in the Apollo gallery, one of the most visited rooms of the museum.
