The Tamesis
Staff at the Louvre in Paris went on strike again this week, intensifying opposition to a major redevelopment plan that includes a dedicated gallery for Leonardo da Vinci’s works Mona Lisa and a new entrance designed to relieve pressure on the museum’s main entrance.
according to The Art Newspaperthe museum closed Monday morning and partially reopened at noon (local time), allowing visitors to view a limited number of high-profile works, including Mona Lisathis Venus de Milo,as well as Wings of Victory in Samothracewhile other galleries remain closed. The strike was backed by three unions, which said 350 staff, including curators, voted unanimously in support of the action.
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The strike comes amid growing controversy over the Louvre’s reforms launched in January 2025 by neo-Renaissance President Emmanuel Macron. Le Monde Report includes relocation plan Mona Lisa Enter the purpose-built galleries within the Sully Wing, connected to a dedicated shop and the new entrance to the east facade of the museum at the foot of the Perrault Colonnade. Le Monde Adding that five international teams have been shortlisted for the architectural competition, none of them are led by French companies.
At the Louvre, unions called on director Laurence des Cars to abandon what they called an “impractical” $778 million project and urged the museum to prioritize long-delayed technical work and maintenance.
The Art Newspaper The auto museum’s 2026 budget reportedly sets aside $116 million for preliminary studies related to the overhaul and $17.5 million for technical maintenance, of which only $2.1 million is for safety at the museum’s work.
The dispute follows a three-day strike before Christmas and the Crown Jewels robbery in October, which heightened scrutiny of security and building conditions at the museum. (Late last month, the Louvre installed bars on its windows to steal stolen jewels, many of which have yet to be recovered.) A parliamentary inquiry into the museum’s security is expected to begin later this week, adding to pressure on the Louvre’s leadership.
