Paris Museums Close as Seine Flood Risk Triggers Mass Art Evacuation
Paris museums have closed and are evacuating artworks as the Seine river threatens to flood, echoing the 1966 Florence flood. The Louvre shut yesterday afternoon, with 250,000 works being moved to upper floors. At the Musée d'Orsay, a crisis unit from the Réunion des Musées Nationaux has been activated; evening openings were cancelled and works are being relocated. The Musée du Quai Branly, opened in 2006, has a built-in flood plan with 22 procedures. The Petit Palais and Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris are also closed and evacuated. Yannick Lintz, director of the Louvre's Islamic Art department, tweeted exultantly about saving her works. An ironic hashtag #InondationDansUnFilm invites users to reimagine film titles related to water.
Key facts
- Louvre closed yesterday afternoon, evacuating 250,000 artworks to upper floors.
- Musée d'Orsay cancelled Thursday evening opening and activated a crisis unit.
- Musée du Quai Branly has a flood plan with 22 procedures since its 2006 opening.
- Petit Palais and Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris are closed and evacuated.
- Yannick Lintz, Louvre Islamic Art director, tweeted exultantly about saving works.
- Hashtag #InondationDansUnFilm created for ironic film title adaptations.
- Comparison made to 1966 Florence flood of the Arno river.
- Works at Musée d'Orsay are being moved to upper exhibition halls; some were pre-stored.
Entities
Artists
- Yannick Lintz
Institutions
- Louvre
- Musée d'Orsay
- Musée du Quai Branly
- Petit Palais
- Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
- Réunion des Musées Nationaux
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Seine
- Florence
- Arno