Sylvie Retailleau on the Grand Palais–Palais de la Découverte Negotiations

Sylvie Retailleau, former Minister of Higher Education and physicist, has been president of Universcience since January 2026. In an interview with Le Journal des Arts, she details the tense negotiations between the Grand Palais and the Palais de la Découverte during the Grand Palais renovation. The Palais de la Découverte, housed in the Palais d'Antin, will reopen in March 2027 after a five-year closure. Retailleau clarifies that the institution ceded one gallery to the Grand Palais for 30 million euros over ten years to contribute to the 500-million-euro renovation (350 million from the state, 150 million borrowed by the Grand Palais). Another gallery is loaned to the Centre Pompidou until June 30, 2030, during its renovation. In exchange, Universcience gains control over the programming of the Palais des Enfants. The Grand Palais can use the rotunda for Art Basel Paris for up to five days, while Universcience uses it for the Fête de la Science. Retailleau addresses Universcience's 20-million-euro deficit, aiming to increase self-generated revenue from 20% to 30% over five to ten years. Visitor numbers dropped to 1.9 million in 2025 from a full capacity of 3 million due to closures. A renovation estimate for the Palais de la Découverte by Lacaton & Vassal ranges from 375 to 500 million euros, contrasting with an earlier 1–1.2 billion estimate.