The Louvre’s new director is inheriting a troubled, traumatised museum—can he repair the damage?

The Musée du Louvre appointed art historian Christophe Leribault, 62, as director on 25 February, tasking him—according to French President Emmanuel Macron—with “appeasement” after a crown jewels theft last October and months of institutional turmoil. His arrival coincided with Macron naming Catherine Pégard, 71, as culture minister after Rachida Dati resigned to run in the March Paris mayoral election. Leribault succeeds Laurence des Cars, whose leadership since 2021 drew criticism after audits and parliamentary hearings cited security delays, an “event-driven” approach, and a security and fire-prevention spend of under 0.3% of the budget; Cour des Comptes president Pierre Moscovici said the robbery was enabled by these inadequacies. The museum also faced floods, structural beam damage, revelations of massive ticket fraud, a 40% ticket-price rise for non-European tourists, and staff strikes beginning mid-December, alongside allegations of expanded management payroll and €500,000 spent on a private dining room.

Read the full article at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events