The Louvre has temporarily closed employee offices and the Campana Gallery in the Sully wing due to structural issues identified in a November 14 building assessment report, which found fragile beams supporting second-floor floors. The closure affects 65 staff and the nine-room gallery of ancient Greek ceramics. This follows a challenging year for the museum, including a staff walkout in June, a theft of imperial jewels from the Gallery of Apollo in October, and a leaked letter from director Laurence des Cars warning of deteriorating conditions. The museum has launched an investigation and plans repairs, while a broader €800 million renovation project called 'Louvre – New Renaissance,' announced by President Emmanuel Macron in January 2025, aims to build a new entrance and Mona Lisa gallery, partly funded by the Louvre Abu Dhabi and increased ticket prices for non-EU visitors.
This matters because the Louvre is the world's most visited museum, and its structural and security issues highlight the immense pressure on aging cultural institutions to balance preservation, visitor experience, and modernization. The closure underscores the urgency of the museum's renovation plans, which are among the most ambitious in its history, and raises broader questions about how major museums fund and manage infrastructure crises while maintaining their global reputation and security.