Centre Pompidou, credit: JMARIEG67 via wikipedia
The Centre Pompidou is facing unrest as it prepares for a five-year closure from 2025 to undergo extensive renovations. Staff strikes have disrupted operations, with workers concerned about job security during the shutdown.
The Parisian arts complex, home to France's national museum of Modern and contemporary art, will begin relocating artworks and partially closing in autumn 2024 for a €262 million renovation. Full closure is scheduled for the end of 2025, and reopening is not expected before 2030.
Multiple staff strikes since mid-October have led to eight days of museum closure. Talks between five trade unions and the French culture ministry stalled on November 14, prompting over 2,200 signatures on a union petition expressing fears for the Pompidou's future.
The unions demand "workforce retention" for over 1,000 current employees and a commitment not to outsource jobs. They also seek a single dedicated location for the museum's activities during the closure, a challenge due to the Pompidou's vast space. The Pompidou plans to collaborate with the Grand Palais for exhibitions until 2030 while the renovation takes place.
The budget for the Pompidou's renovation has increased to €262 million from the initially planned €200 million, with reasons cited as rising public works costs and the need to raise €160 million for gallery reorganization. The museum aims to finalize its reopening program by June 2024.
Laurent Le Bon, the Pompidou's President, has postponed the closure until after the 2024 Olympic Games. The French government insists on a complete shutdown for renovations, citing the building's critical need for modernization. Former Pompidou President Alain Seban disagreed, but the ministry argued that partial closure would be costlier and more disruptive.
Selena Mattei