RETHINKING THE GRAND PALAIS RENOVATION PROJECT
In a context disrupted by the health crisis, the Ministry of Culture decided this summer to rethink the project to renovate and develop the Grand Palais and bring it up to standard. While maintain- ing the initial programme and cultural ambition, this rethink enables the project to meet budget and deadline requirements. It also includes the renovation of new elements, including the stat- ues on the façade, which are in particular need of attention. 2020 also saw the structure of the Temporary Grand Palais emerge on the Champ-de-Mars. Following preparatory work on the site in the summer, installation work started as planned in September and operations started up in 2021.
2020 was also marked by the compilation of a rich outside the walls programme to be rolled out at the Temporary Grand Palais as well as other partner venues. With this in mind, the creation of the Grand Palais Immersif subsidiary in November was a major and exciting step forward. Grand Palais Immersif s mission is to produce, run and distribute digital exhibitions for Parisian, French and international audiences.
SUPPORT FOR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE TERRITORIES
Beyond the Grand Palais and the Musée du Luxembourg, the Rmn - Grand Palais continued to support cultural institutions in the territories. The "Chance Encounters initiative led by the Ministry of Culture and organized and deployed by the Rmn Grand Palais in 15 French regions during the summer, enabled 42 artists, authors and scientists to travel all over France to meet the public in 58 media and book libraries.
Despite the postponement of several projects, three exhibitions were produced by the Rmn Grand Palais in French national museums. The Réconciliations exhibition in the Château de Pau. Rome, Henri IV and France told of the political and artistic relations between the Holy See and Henri IV at the turn of the 17th century. The Colour and Ink exhibition at the Marc Chagall National Museum in Nice. Marc Chagall and Art Reviews paid tribute to the powerful connection that the artist maintained throughout his life with the writ- ten word, manuscripts and books. And finally, the From Alesia to Rome The Archaeological Adventure of Napoleon III exhibition, at the Musée d Archéologie Nationale in Saint-Germain- en-Laye, went back over the digs organized by Napoleon III between 1858 and 1879, a period when archaeology came to the fore in society and political debate.
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