Louvre Could Be Forced to Close Without Government Funding, Director Warns

The Louvre must be modernized and undergo a series of renovations and an internal restructuring to avoid falling behind, the museum’s director says. He is calling on the next government to allocate public funds for the transformation.

Leribault, who took office in February this year, says he intends to seek private funding, but a significant government contribution must also be approved after next year's election.

After jewelry worth nearly a billion kronor (about $95 million) was stolen in a major heist last year, the Louvre has been working on a security plan that has so far cost more than 900 million kronor (about $86 million).