Faced with the crisis, Strasbourg museums will close two days a week

The city of Strasbourg will close its museums two days a week and reduce their opening hours, EELV Mayor Jeanne Barseghian announced on Wednesday, “a local utility accommodation measurein the face of the crisis. There will be “a closure of two days a week instead of one day with also time slots adapted to attendance“, detailed the city councilor during a press conference devoted to the rise in energy prices and its consequences for the city.

“I want our museums to remain accessible“, continued Ms. Barseghian, who refused to increase the price of the entrance ticket for visitors. “From the financial point of view (…), some cities do it. We have an entry price of 7.5 euros, and in some cities it’s double. But it’s not my choice“, she added. In detail, and according to a letter from the town hall made public by the site of the UNSA union of Eurometropolis agents, the eight museums managed by the city will close from October 3 either on Monday and Wednesday, or on Tuesday and Thursday.

Read alsoStrasbourg plans to reduce the opening hours of its museums

Hours will also be reduced, with closure between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on all opening days. “When you see that there are few people, it may be at these times that the equipment is closed“, continued Jeanne Barseghian. However, the museums will remain open six days a week during major exhibitions, and will honor the mediation appointments, set in particular with schools.

Mentioned in August without being confirmed, these measures had raised questions about the cultural policy of the city in the ranks of the unions and the municipal opposition. An online petition, deploring that Strasbourg, “7th tourist destination in France“, that is “the first metropolis in France to take such a decision“, Launched by the former mayor of the city (Agir) Fabienne Keller, and the deputy of Bas-Rhin, Bruno Studer (Renaissance), collected nearly 2,000 signatures in a few days.