"The daylight robbery - among the highest-profile museum thefts in living memory - exposed alarming security holes at the Paris landmark. The former royal palace has also suffered a broad array of other problems that have presented a picture of a treasured national institution spiraling out of control."
"They include a burst pipe near the "Mona Lisa," water leaks that damaged priceless books, aging buildings, staff walkouts over overcrowding, understaffing and ticket price hikes for most non-European visitors. Pressure for new leadership deepened in recent weeks when authorities revealed a suspected decade-long ticket fraud operation linked to the museum."
"Leribault brings a proven track record. He has been running another world-renowned French landmark and tourist attraction, the Versailles Palace, overseeing an annual budget of about 170 million euros ($200 million). The former palace for French royalty west of Paris was the venue for Olympic equestrian sports when Paris hosted the summer games in 2024."
Christophe Leribault, an experienced museum director, has been appointed as the new director of the Louvre, replacing Laurence des Cars who resigned. The appointment follows a major security crisis at the Paris museum, including a brazen October heist of French crown jewels that exposed significant vulnerabilities. The Louvre faces multiple challenges: infrastructure problems like burst pipes and water damage, staff shortages and overcrowding issues, aging facilities, and a suspected decade-long ticket fraud operation costing approximately 10 million euros. Leribault brings substantial experience from managing Versailles Palace with a 170 million euro annual budget and previously directed the Orsay Museum. His priorities include implementing security upgrades, modernizing facilities, and executing the "Louvre New Renaissance" overhaul plan.
#louvre-museum-leadership #museum-security-crisis #cultural-institution-management #institutional-reform
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