Louvre Launches Benefit Auction to Fund New Education Space

The Louvre Museum in Paris has launched 'Bid for the Louvre', an online benefit auction organized by Christie's with support from Drouot, running until December 15, 2020. Proceeds will fund 'Studio', a 1,150-square-meter educational space opening in autumn 2021. The auction features artworks donated by artists including Candida Höfer, Pierre Soulages, Xavier Veilhan, Johan Creten, Eva Jospin, and Jean-Michel Othoniel. Experiences on offer include a scientific examination of the Mona Lisa, a night tour with a flashlight, a private concert in the Salle des Caryatides, a rooftop visit with street artist JR, naming rights to a tree or bench in the Jardin des Tuileries, and virtual tours of the three Louvre locations in Paris, Lens, and Abu Dhabi. Brand sponsors contribute luxury items such as a Panthère de Cartier bracelet, a Dior trunk and haute couture miniature dress by Maria Grazia Chiuri, and a bag by Virgil Abloh for Off-White. Louvre president Jean-Luc Martinez emphasized that educational and social projects are central to the museum's mission, especially during the pandemic.