France, 11 art journal editors write to Macron to call for reopening museums

Important action by French art publications: eleven editors of newspapers and art magazines have in fact signed, all together, a letter addressed to the president of the republic Emmanuel Macron calling for the reopening of museums. An unusual move, perhaps unprecedented, but one dictated by the fact that museums, in France, have been closed for months (since the end of October) and, according to the drafters of the appeal, the epidemiological situation is now such that the lockout can be ended, given also the fact that museums are places where it is unlikely that there will be a spread of the virus such as to cause fear for the trend of Covid-19 contagions.

Below is the full text of the letter.

"Mr. President of the Republic,

For more than 30 years, in the case of some of us, we have been keen observers of museums, heritage sites and art centers. We have often visited them to give an account to our readers of what places of intelligence and conviviality they are.

That is why we ask you to reopen them as soon as possible so that children and young people who are currently on vacation, or will be soon, can encounter works of art live instead of on a screen. It would be in a way a declination of theété apprenant.

We are fully aware that this is a difficult path, squeezed on the one hand by pressures on the hospital system and on the other by economic and social implications. But in the case of museums, the health protocols activated last May were designed to prevent contagion among visitors.

Moreover, we think it is possible to open these places at least during the week, closing at 6 p.m. Our Italian and Spanish neighbors have done it before us.

Of course, opening heritage places means taking the risk of displeasing theaters and cinemas, which suffer in the same way. However, let us take advantage of the reopening of these sites to measure the impact on the number of new cases of contagion, and if, as we think, there are no negative consequences, this will allow theaters and cinemas to welcome their audiences again a few weeks later.

The economic implications of the sector are smaller than for bars and restaurants, but they are real. Many private heritage sites can only rely on their ticket revenues. Moreover, whether public or private, these places give life to an ecosystem threatened by the crisis: artists, mediators, guides, set designers, exhibition curators, communication agencies, students, interns, art critics, newspapers and art magazines.

’Museums and historical monuments may be facilities that, within the framework of a stabilization of the epidemic, may be subject to regulated reopening,’ Minister Roselyne Bachelot indicated to parliamentarians on January 12.

She bet on a strengthened curfew instead of total confinement: so bet also on a gradual reopening of cultural venues, starting immediately with museums, heritage sites and art centers.

Hoping that you will give a favorable follow-up to our request, please, Mr. President of the Republic, acknowledge the expression of our warmest consideration.

Fabrice Bousteau (Beaux-Arts Magazine)
Guy Boyer (Connaissance des arts)
Jean-Christophe Castelain (Le Journal des Arts)
Olivier Lange (La Gazette de Drouot)
Catherine Millet (Artpress)
Françoise Monnin (Artension)
Rafaël Pic (Le Quotidien de l’art)
Philippe Régnier (The Art Newspaper)
Didier Rykner (La Tribune de l’art)
Fabien Simode (L’ŒIL)"

France, 11 art journal editors write to Macron to call for reopening museums

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