Paris’ distinguished modern and contemporary art museum, the Centre Pompidou, has unveiled a €262 million ($283.6 million) renovation plan that will result in the museum’s closure for five years starting in 2025. The renovation project, which is set to be one year longer than originally anticipated, will cause the museum to miss its 50th anniversary in 2027. During this period, the Centre Pompidou will concentrate its efforts on the upcoming satellite museums in Brussels and Jersey City, which are slated to open in 2025 and 2026, respectively. In addition, the museum is currently developing new museums in Seoul, AlUla (Saudi Arabia), and proposing another one in the Brazilian state of Paraná.
It is uncommon for a museum of such size to close over such a long period, but it has been done before. A notable example is the Museum of Modern Art, which underwent a $450 million renovation in 2019 but managed to stay open throughout, closing only for a brief period of four months. The Centre Pompidou, on the other hand, has been compelled to temporarily close its doors in order to undertake essential maintenance work on its iconic building, which was designed by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano and has experienced considerable wear and tear since its construction in the 1970s, as stated by French authorities.
The Centre Pompidou will move the Atelier Brancusi, the former studio of the modernist sculptor, into the “heart of the main building” as part of the renovation. Currently, the Atelier Brancusi is located in a separate structure from the Centre Pompidou’s main space. The museum will also rehang its collection and offer more “phygital” experiences, available in physical or virtual format, and a refurbished library.
Before the Centre Pompidou closes, it has several major exhibitions planned, including the biggest Constantin Brancusi exhibition ever staged, a centenary celebration of Surrealism in 2024, and a survey of Black art in Paris between 1950 and 1990 slated for 2025.