The Museum of the Middle Ages in Paris – Musée de Cluny – has seen a stagnation, maybe even a downturn in the number of visitors. Why?
In 2012 the visitors to the Musée de Cluny numbered 307.490. However in 2013 this figure seem to be somewhat lower (the exact figures have not been published so-far). In the latest issue of Millefleurs, published by the friends of Musée de Cluny, the editor muses about this. Is it a reflection of the current pause in temporary exhibitions? The restoration and thus “lack” of the Pièce de Resistance of the Museum, The Lady with a Unicorn in 2013? Or is it a reflection of the economic crisis? This might very well be the case. All-in-all French museums witnessed a 2.9% growth in 2012. In the same period the growth in visitors at Musée de Cluny was 3.5%.
In order to shed light on the development the museum has recently started to survey its guests in the same manner as it did in 1992 and 2002, interviewing groups of visitors each month for a whole year. This is sure to be vastly interesting, uncovering the general interest in the Middle Ages and how it has developed during the last 20 years. One of the very preliminary results (from October) is the large number of tourists and first-time visitors, probably reflecting the fact that locals have put the museum on hold until it has finished its rebuilding and rehanging of the famous tapestries.
Another obstacle, however, is the on-going renovation of the whole building. As of now the museum disposes of 4000 m2. Of these 2500 are reserved for the permanent and temporary exhibitions, while 200 m2 are used by the shop and the educational department and 700 m2 are set apart for conservation, administration and archives. A new plan of this space is promised to ensure a chronologically better organisation of the exhibition. At the same time a rebuilding of the old premises is planned to recover about 600 m2 for new initiatives. This development will be carried out in 2015 – 2017. Obviously this is a very complicated matter, acknowledging the fact that the Musee du Moyen Age is housed in one of the few medieval buildings still standing in Paris. A further complication is also that this house was built next to and on top of some Gallo-Roman baths from the third century.
Finally the museum is planning to do something about its – to say it mildly – extremely lousy internet-presence. Amusingly enough we are told some of the story behind. It appears that the old website stopped to be maintained by the Ministère de la Culture and the RMN in 2010, after it broke down technically (parts of it can be seen here). In the interim the communication department launched a new site under the name: Musee de Cluny. This has been characterised by a number of “lacks” (eg. no consistent publication of press-releases, publications etc). Apparently it took until 2012 before a consultant was found to rethink the web-presence of the museum. The results of this work will be unveiled in January 2014. Congratulations!
However, one may well wonder: why did it have to take so long to organise a new web-presence; something which can be done with wordpress (free) and inside a week? (Take a month if you need to have proper artistic and graphic assistance.) And why have the Museum not tackled this challenge, which is of such enormous importance in the 21st century?
Whatever the explanation, we are many who look forward to a new and hopefully easily navigated website, www.musee-moyenage.fr. Perhaps it may even divulge the opening hours on the front-page as a mild practical help for those, who wish to visit the museum in the future?
The Museum is officially known as the Musée national du Moyen Âge – Thermes et hôtel de Cluny (National Museum of the Middle Ages – Cluny thermal baths and mansion). However, we all know of it as what it is: Musée de Cluny. Apparently this is also how the Museum wants to be known, witness its presentation on its current temporary website. Curiously enough, however, and perhaps witness to the lack of acumen among the staff in the museum the domain-name: museedecluny.fr etc. is up for grabs! But perhaps it is all just a reflection of some hideous French departmental infight of which we know nothing. All has been very confusing.
However, rest assured: as soon as the new website is unveiled we shall review it!
Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge
6 place Paul Painlevé
75005 Paris