A return to cultural life after the easing of confinement restrictions

Since May 11, and since June 2 in particular, cultural sites have been progressively reopening as confinement measures have begun to be eased. In order to clarify the situation, the French Ministry of Culture has put a detailed and daily updated interactive map online that provides information about which museums have reopened and under what conditions.

The cultural world has been particularly strongly impacted by the public health crisis and the resulting confinement measures. The French Ministry of Culture has therefore immediately introduced measures designed to  "support the resumption of cultural activities".One of the most eagerly awaited of these measures was the decision to reopen certain local cultural venues, sites, museums and monuments.

An interactive and constantly evolving map

With a view to people once again accessing cultural facilities, an interactive map has been placed online detailing the local sites, museums and monuments whose "reopening has been authorized by the local administration on the advice of the town hall" responsible for the places in which these facilities are located. The ministry specifies, however, that "that this reopening requires strict compliance with health protection rules."

This interactive map of France is also constantly changing and evolving: it will be updated and added to each day as more of these local sites, museums and monuments are scheduled to reopen.

The interactive map of local sites, museums and monuments in question is available to access on the website of the French Ministry of Culture

A progressive reopening

During his May 28 press conference in which he announced plans for phase 2 of the lifting of confinement restrictions, the French Prime Minister specified that museums and monuments will be able to reopen "across the country" from June 2 "with the wearing of masks obligatory." These cultural facilities add to the number of small establishments that, by complying with the barrier based health protection measures currently in place, had already been allowed to reopen from May 11 as part of phase 1 of the lifting of confinement restrictions.

The situation of the large museums

The Jacquemart-André Museum in Paris, for example, which has now been reopened since May 26, has adapted its procedures to comply with  health protection recommendations in order to be able to allow access to visitors again. According to the City of Paris' cultural services, two museums particularly likely to reopen soon are the Petit Palais and the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris. However, these museums will be required to select and prioritize "specific galleries and collections."

Where large national museums such as the Louvre are concerned, there is still some waiting to do. Information about reopening and the conditions under which it will be allowed take place are to be announced to the public over the coming days.

Please note, however, that the reopening of the Lens branch of the Louvre has already been set for June 3, though this is restricted to specific galleries and temporary exhibitions.

©Volodymyr (Vladimir) Nikulin  - fotolia.com