Paris Museums Close Doors Amid Protest Violence Fears

Several prominent Paris museums, including the Louvre, Orsay, and Picasso museums, announced they would close their doors on Saturday due to fears of potential violence during planned protests. The French culture ministry stated that the closures were a precautionary measure to ensure visitor safety, staff protection, and the preservation of artworks.

The decision comes after protests last Saturday escalated into significant unrest, marked by rioters setting fires, vandalizing shops, looting, and engaging in clashes with police. These events represented some of the most violent social disturbances in France in recent years.

Art Basel Paris, a major contemporary art fair held at the Grand Palais, also adjusted its schedule. After two days of invite-only access, it opened to the public on Friday. However, organizers canceled the weekend program on Thursday due to the threat of unrest.

Organizers of Art Basel stated that the decision to cancel the weekend public access was not made lightly and that the safety of all participants was their utmost priority. Ticket holders for the weekend events are being contacted.

Art collector Saloni Doshi, who traveled from India for the fair, expressed understanding for the closures. "It's hard that something like this has to happen, but state activities and people's freedom have to continue," she said. "I cannot imagine that a bunch of elite, privileged people getting inconvenienced because of this should have a voice."

Gallery owners Antoine Donzeaud and Elisa Rigoulet echoed this sentiment, calling the decision "reasonable and consistent with the urgency of the social demands currently unfolding in France."

While a protest in Paris on Thursday afternoon remained peaceful, the demonstration planned for Saturday is anticipated to draw a larger crowd, contributing to the heightened security concerns among cultural institutions and event organizers.