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For the first time in its history, the Louvre launches a fundraising campaign

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The Editor

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It's an unprecedented moment for the world's most famous museum. On Thursday, October 1st, the Louvre launched an unusual patronage campaign to raise the funds needed to renovate the Sphinx courtyard, which has been heavily affected by water infiltration problems in recent years.

Decidedly, these past few months have been quite eventful for the world's largest museum (at least if we're talking about exhibition gallery space). After the theft of Napoleon's jewels earlier this year, new technical problems are highlighting the aging of its infrastructure, and the urgent need for a fresh makeover. And to make that happen, the institution has decided to appeal to your generosity.


A major new initiative

Every year since 2010, at the start of the school year, the Louvre launches its "Everyone a Patron!" campaign, which aims to raise funds from the general public, to pay for restoration and acquisition of pieces in the collection

u museum. This year, however, there's exciting news—the funds raised won't go toward preserving artworks, but rather toward renovating the building itself. A first-time initiative with a straightforward goal: raise 800,000 euros by January 19th to restore the courtyard known as the Sphinx Court, also called the Queen's Court. In the long term, this space will house the Roman collections exhibition currently being reimagined.


A Much-Needed Renovation

Located in the heart of the Denon wing — the most visited section of the museum — sits this 500 m² courtyard, imagined in the mid-17th century by architect François Le Vau (brother of Louis Le Vau, who notably designed the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte). Unfortunately, this space, which takes its name from the Sphinx of Tanis displayed there between 1826 and 1848, is today extremely deteriorated, particularly its enormous glass roof, built in 1934. The latter has serious problems with insulation and waterproofing, and must be replaced as soon as possible. The facades will also be able to be renovated thanks to donations. And great news — if you're among the generous patrons, you'll be able to have youra word to say when choosing the new courtyard name !