French Cultural Sector Paralyzed as Coronavirus Lockdown Looms

As France transitions to stage 3 of the coronavirus emergency, cultural venues in Paris, such as the Louvre, Centre Pompidou, and Musée d'Orsay, have shut their doors. Significant exhibitions, including the Christian Louboutin showcase and those featuring James Tissot and Giorgio de Chirico, have been postponed. Initially, some national landmarks had restricted access to 100 visitors but have also closed. The Philharmonie de Paris will not resume operations until April 7, while the Opéra de Paris has halted performances until April 15. Numerous events scheduled for March and April, like Paris Manga and the Book Fair, have been canceled. President Macron declared a nationwide lockdown on March 16. LVMH, under Bernard Arnault's leadership, is manufacturing hand sanitizer for hospitals, leaving precarious workers in the cultural sector particularly vulnerable.