Upkeep of the museum’s vast and historic buildings, which were a former palace for French royals, also hasn’t kept pace with its success as one of France’s leading attractions.
A water leak on Nov. 26 damaged several hundred publications stored in the museum’s library of works specializing in Egyptian antiquities. The damaged works included revues and documents from the 19th and 20th century, the museum said. The opening of a valve triggered the leak in a network of water pipes that are due to be replaced next year, the museum said.
Last month, the Louvre also announced the temporary closure of some employees’ offices and one public gallery because of weakened floor beams
How can it be a leading attraction but also in that condition?
Sounds like management should be replaced...
Facility manager here. I haven’t worked at the Louvre specifically, but at similar sites around Paris.
The logic is always the same: “Immediate safety risk? No? Then we’ll deal with it next year.”
I’ve seen countless problems that could have been fixed for €100k get postponed year after year, only to turn into urgent interventions costing €1M four years later. Annual budgets are always tight, and the only way to get approval is when a problem becomes so critical that refusal isn’t an option.
These pipes were scheduled for replacement next year, which means they needed to be replaced five years ago.
"If it ain't broke don't fix it" except by the time it breaks it's too late to do anything about it and has likely caused way worse damage than if it was simply fixed from the get-go
It’s so odd that such big entities still haven’t realized that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s happened all throughout history. I swear, there’s something in the nature of people who end up in charge that makes them into morons. In my experience, it’s always blustery loudmouths that end up in those positions through sheer arrogance disguised as ambition
It's a consequence of it being disincentivized to have long term thinking. The manager and director hope they'll be gone by the time it cracks, and that someone else will have to get "blamed" for the bad profits that quarter. We have made a society that rewards this behavior, it happens in politics too, nobody wants to do necessary but unpopular things because they'll put their heads on the block come election season, so better ignore those lead pipes and hope it'll be a problem for the opposition.
What I saw personally in politics is that they're eager to do shiny and quick stuff, but nothing else. If it looks good on camera and it can be done before the next election, you're good to go. But structural work ? It's impossible to get a journalist to write about how magnificently those pipes have been done thanks to [local politician].
Enshittification of everything. “This is our most profitable museum, that means we can probably squeeze even more money from it. Lets lower expenses as much as possible and see if it works.”
They dont so these expense cuttings smoothly and step by step, they go to the bottom and see if that holds and then add as little as possible to get it working at the bare minimum.
it sounds like they weren't using the money properly to, you know, actually store things so they won't get damaged in the event of a water leak, or do the general maintenence during the off season.
How can it be a leading attraction but also in that condition?
My guess? It being a leading attraction is precisely why it is in such a condition. No-one wants to be the one closing the Louvre for say 3 months, or maybe even a couple years if major maintenance is necessary.
It's kind of the same issues that led to the loss of HMS Hood in the Second World War. Several successive British Governments knew that Hood desperately needed a major overhaul in dry-dock, but a combination of being short of money and wanting to keep a major symbol of British naval might at sea & showing the flag meant nothing was done.
With the Louvre, you also have a lack of money, plus unwillingness to temporarily close France's flagship museum to tourists while repairs are made.
US infrastructure. Majority of roads, pipes, bridges, power lines, ect are all from the 50s to 70s.
Many bridge collapses, sinkhole problems, pipe bursts, fires, ect have been do to administrations not wanting to be the to hold the ball and sink cost into maintenance.
We have 80-90 year old dams still operating despite needing refurbishment with operating crews in their 50s to 60s on average and no "next generation" to take over.
If the US does have some type of collapse in the near future, our "kick the can down the road" for our collapsing infrastructure is going to play a major part in it.
I remember when the argument against Egypt having their own relics was that they couldn't be trusted to properly preserve or care for them... But then we hear about burst pipes in the Louvre and the British museum "losing" roughly 2000 pieces.
I understand there are degrees to the standard of care, but I don't think we can pretend these other museums have their shit totally together either.
Are you suggesting that being located anywhere on Earth has a comparable convenience to having all the pieces in the same room? Not sure what you trying to say.
You should know that most of the bridges in the United States are what they call structurally deficient. That means that there are serious need of repair but like this art gallery the repairs just keep getting pushed off into the future. Putting off repairs is a big problem in a lot of industries.
The museum is in “crisis,” with insufficient resources and “increasingly deteriorated working conditions,” said the unions’ strike notice to Culture Minister Rachida Dati.
I mean, as an archival researcher, those journals and research volumes are priceless heritage artifacts. They just aren't antiquities.
The loss or archived scholarship (or just archived materials and records) can be devastating. I'm not saying that's the case here! I just merely hope to point out that it's still a loss. :)
I can't tell if you're actually complaining or parodying a complaint.
All I said was that that section of the room got damaged nothing more. Museum Research volumes and journals are pretty important, sometimes priceless btw.
Not great, but you’re intentionally making it sound like priceless heritage artifacts were destroyed and that’s plainly false.
The priceless heritage on display to the public is priceless heritage because of the work in archaeologist's journals. History isn't "k we learned it, let's throw it out, nothing new can be gleaned"
They raised the pricing for non-EU visitors because they want to keep it cheap and affordable for EU residents to experience the culture there. Not because they are trying to 'keep out' potential heisters.
that area was actually scheduled for a major security overall next year, read some speculation that said announcement may have been what drew the thieves attention.
How about putting the expensive stuff people want to steal in new(er) highly secure buildings, and let the historical buildings like the Louvre be about themselves and their own history? Just saying using old buildings you can't modify for housing stuff people would love to steal is not the best idea unless your only concern is saving money.
No no put them very close to the exterior wall right next to an easily accessible balcony with an even easier accessible door/window. Do not GPS track anything and do not give security any weapons or measures to defend the building or artifacts.
Honestly? Good for them. If I had to spend 8 hours a day herding thousands of rude influencers pushing and shoving just to take a blurry selfie with the Mona Lisa, I’d be on strike too. The working conditions in that specific room must be absolute psychological torture.
The new management actually got rid of security features the desks were opulent and designed to be sealed during a theft. Instead they got rid of it to appeal to the public.
How can it be a leading attraction but also in that condition?
Sounds like management should be replaced...
Facility manager here. I haven’t worked at the Louvre specifically, but at similar sites around Paris.
The logic is always the same: “Immediate safety risk? No? Then we’ll deal with it next year.”
I’ve seen countless problems that could have been fixed for €100k get postponed year after year, only to turn into urgent interventions costing €1M four years later. Annual budgets are always tight, and the only way to get approval is when a problem becomes so critical that refusal isn’t an option.
These pipes were scheduled for replacement next year, which means they needed to be replaced five years ago.
This is every company, everywhere. I see the same shit in IT. Delay until it becomes a full blown catastrophe
This is how the majority of humanity deals with everything.
Instead of prevention and maintenance, ignore the problem until it physically can't be ignored.
How do you manage home maintenance issues?
The majority, not everyone.
Best comment here
"If it ain't broke don't fix it" except by the time it breaks it's too late to do anything about it and has likely caused way worse damage than if it was simply fixed from the get-go
It’s so odd that such big entities still haven’t realized that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s happened all throughout history. I swear, there’s something in the nature of people who end up in charge that makes them into morons. In my experience, it’s always blustery loudmouths that end up in those positions through sheer arrogance disguised as ambition
It's a consequence of it being disincentivized to have long term thinking. The manager and director hope they'll be gone by the time it cracks, and that someone else will have to get "blamed" for the bad profits that quarter. We have made a society that rewards this behavior, it happens in politics too, nobody wants to do necessary but unpopular things because they'll put their heads on the block come election season, so better ignore those lead pipes and hope it'll be a problem for the opposition.
What I saw personally in politics is that they're eager to do shiny and quick stuff, but nothing else. If it looks good on camera and it can be done before the next election, you're good to go. But structural work ? It's impossible to get a journalist to write about how magnificently those pipes have been done thanks to [local politician].
Enshittification of everything. “This is our most profitable museum, that means we can probably squeeze even more money from it. Lets lower expenses as much as possible and see if it works.”
They dont so these expense cuttings smoothly and step by step, they go to the bottom and see if that holds and then add as little as possible to get it working at the bare minimum.
I always assumed the French were above enshitifocation. I guess none of us are
I don't know, I've heard enough rumors of their public urination antics to believe they may have in fact invented it.
it sounds like they weren't using the money properly to, you know, actually store things so they won't get damaged in the event of a water leak, or do the general maintenence during the off season.
My guess? It being a leading attraction is precisely why it is in such a condition. No-one wants to be the one closing the Louvre for say 3 months, or maybe even a couple years if major maintenance is necessary.
MBAs. The answer is always some wanker with an MBA title who's bonus depends on the numbers going up every. Damn. Quarter!!
Anything that hinders that goal will be cut no matter how important it is to the infrastructure
It's kind of the same issues that led to the loss of HMS Hood in the Second World War. Several successive British Governments knew that Hood desperately needed a major overhaul in dry-dock, but a combination of being short of money and wanting to keep a major symbol of British naval might at sea & showing the flag meant nothing was done.
With the Louvre, you also have a lack of money, plus unwillingness to temporarily close France's flagship museum to tourists while repairs are made.
I'll be that guy.
US infrastructure. Majority of roads, pipes, bridges, power lines, ect are all from the 50s to 70s.
Many bridge collapses, sinkhole problems, pipe bursts, fires, ect have been do to administrations not wanting to be the to hold the ball and sink cost into maintenance.
We have 80-90 year old dams still operating despite needing refurbishment with operating crews in their 50s to 60s on average and no "next generation" to take over.
If the US does have some type of collapse in the near future, our "kick the can down the road" for our collapsing infrastructure is going to play a major part in it.
Engineer here's the bill to replace all the old shit. Management how about No?
They paid the shareholders instead of maintenance
Here’s a thought… maybe return all the relics to the countries where they came from instead of hoarding them in some palace?
I remember when the argument against Egypt having their own relics was that they couldn't be trusted to properly preserve or care for them... But then we hear about burst pipes in the Louvre and the British museum "losing" roughly 2000 pieces.
I understand there are degrees to the standard of care, but I don't think we can pretend these other museums have their shit totally together either.
also its pretty much a well known fact that they are selling pieces to private collectors.
This is often suggested, but, depending on where they originated, not always a good idea.
It is common for artifacts to be destroyed or even sold to finance wars.
“But they’re safer here”
They actually are.
Eh but then there no way to go see them in one place :(.
I have defined this place to be called 'Earth'
I have defined it as "the internet"
Seeing beautiful art in a gallery is one thing, but I don't often see much value in seeing cultural artifacts, especially bereft of context.
Are you suggesting that being located anywhere on Earth has a comparable convenience to having all the pieces in the same room? Not sure what you trying to say.
Oooooooooh, you’re gonna get downvoted sooooo hard!
That way the British museums can then take them back to their museums.
When the british surrender all the french things in their museums eh.
They’ve been discussing security improvements since 2018 but have spent much of the money on new art instead of
It's the Louvre, it's almost certain they've hosted multiple seminars on the importance of museum upkeep and preventing water damage.
You should know that most of the bridges in the United States are what they call structurally deficient. That means that there are serious need of repair but like this art gallery the repairs just keep getting pushed off into the future. Putting off repairs is a big problem in a lot of industries.
France has no money.
Old buildings are very very expensive to maintain.
Louvre budget doesn't necessarily reflect it's value or success
They recently raised prices in response to the heist.
Only this morning there was a pipe burst and the Egyptian room got damaged and the Culture minister wants to be mayor next year. Très bon optics.
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I mean, as an archival researcher, those journals and research volumes are priceless heritage artifacts. They just aren't antiquities.
The loss or archived scholarship (or just archived materials and records) can be devastating. I'm not saying that's the case here! I just merely hope to point out that it's still a loss. :)
I can't tell if you're actually complaining or parodying a complaint.
All I said was that that section of the room got damaged nothing more. Museum Research volumes and journals are pretty important, sometimes priceless btw.
The priceless heritage on display to the public is priceless heritage because of the work in archaeologist's journals. History isn't "k we learned it, let's throw it out, nothing new can be gleaned"
You literally contradicted yourself in this comment lmao
This is crazy to me, this might be the most famous museum in the world, but commercially it doesn’t make enough money to maintain their building?
Just European things
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They are only indirectly related.
They raised the pricing for non-EU visitors because they want to keep it cheap and affordable for EU residents to experience the culture there. Not because they are trying to 'keep out' potential heisters.
For security? Sucks for tourists
When workers warn about security and get ignored, this is the outcome
that area was actually scheduled for a major security overall next year, read some speculation that said announcement may have been what drew the thieves attention.
Welcome to France
A heist taking place during a workers strike sounds like the plot for a new Oceans movie. Just saying
This is all ARG marketing for the 4th "Knives Out" film in 2 years time.
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It's in theaters for a limited release right now, and comes out on Netflix this week!
I will never forgive museum management for their negligence leading to what has happened in the Egyptology library.
What happened?
Neglected upkeep has led to a burst pipe and flooded the library despite employees’ consistent pleas with management to provide maintenance
Shameful considering that’s why they didn’t return Egyptian art that was stolen “they can’t properly store it” - clowns
Even the Venus de Milo has taken up arms 😔
I gotta hand it to you on that pun.
this isn't a good year for the louvre
How about putting the expensive stuff people want to steal in new(er) highly secure buildings, and let the historical buildings like the Louvre be about themselves and their own history? Just saying using old buildings you can't modify for housing stuff people would love to steal is not the best idea unless your only concern is saving money.
No no put them very close to the exterior wall right next to an easily accessible balcony with an even easier accessible door/window. Do not GPS track anything and do not give security any weapons or measures to defend the building or artifacts.
Honestly? Good for them. If I had to spend 8 hours a day herding thousands of rude influencers pushing and shoving just to take a blurry selfie with the Mona Lisa, I’d be on strike too. The working conditions in that specific room must be absolute psychological torture.
NGL the workers at the Lovre striking after a heist is the most French thing ever. Seriously striking is like the national past time in France.
The workers warned management about security issues and were ignored.
The timeless tale of employees who give a shit about their job.
The new management actually got rid of security features the desks were opulent and designed to be sealed during a theft. Instead they got rid of it to appeal to the public.
I wish we had that energy in the states.
With the price of a ticket and the amount of visitors it should be easy to improve conditions.
Unfortunaly museums run on a catch 22:
To get more income and more visitors you need rarer objects, and more of them
But more objects require more money to care for and rare objects require expensive specialist care
Hence museums at every level struggle with funding
Did they ever really find the guy or things stolen??…
I imagine holders of these works are going to be moving to other museums
Thieves would take better care of the items at this point....
Maybe this is the outcome the thieves wanted so they could pull off their REAL heist.
Damn they getting robbed twice
The crown jewels of France were only worth $102M? Seems a bit low right?
Next week: metheor changes its trajectory suddenly and hits the louvre right in its Mona Lisa’s ass.
Next next week: Covid26 virus found on the louvre.
Next next next week: the louvre opens an exposition about the life of Bono
The Egyptian antiquities that were destroyed were stolen from Egypt.