The Musée du Louvre in Paris has closed its Campana Gallery, which houses nine rooms of ancient Greek ceramics, after a technical report revealed structural weaknesses in beams supporting the second floor of the Sully Wing. The gallery will remain closed 'until further notice' as a precaution, and 65 staff members will be relocated, though the artworks will not be moved. The closure comes amid the Louvre's ambitious New Renaissance renovation project, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron, which includes a new visitor entrance under the Perrault Colonnade by 2031 and is now valued at €1.15bn.
The closure highlights the severe infrastructural challenges facing one of the world's most visited museums, as a separate report from France's Cour des Comptes criticizes the Louvre for delays in deploying security equipment and warns of significant cost overruns in its renovation plans. The situation underscores the tension between the museum's grand modernization ambitions and its urgent need for basic repairs and security upgrades, raising broader questions about the sustainability of major cultural institutions under pressure from aging facilities, rising visitor numbers, and budgetary constraints.