November 23 principal officials of the Paris Museum of Modern Art, the Pompidou Center, went on strike. They are dissatisfied that the Government, Nicolas Sarkozy intends to cut half of job vacancies that will occur after retirement. Reduction of the museum is part of the state public sector reform, which will hold in 2010.

recently by museum curators appealed to the Minister of Culture Frederic Mitterand (Frédéric Mitterrand) with an open letter. They argue that the reform will have disastrous consequences for the museum, 44 percent of workers who will retire over the next ten years. In 2010, the Pompidou lost 26 jobs in 2011 - another 23. According to one of the curators, a financial advisor Mitterrand, who had told staff of the Government's plans, said: "Reform must affect the Pompidou Center, the decision of the State, the main shareholder. "As if our museum - a kind of commercial company!" - Outraged the curator.

In addition to job cuts, the protesters are concerned about the fact that budget cuts will put in a Pompidou reliance on private sponsors. This means that the museum will focus on the most profitable projects, and organize exhibitions are not yet very well-known artists will be harder and harder. If Pompidou decided to limit cooperation with sponsors, it will be forced to reduce the number of projects, or show less significant works, and this could affect his status as one of the leading museums in Europe.

Last week, the strike launched by employees Pompidou, touched, and other attractions, including the Louvre, Orsay Museum, Rodin Museum, Triumphal arch and the Palace of Versailles. However, the majority of employees will soon have decided to resume work. But the Pompidou Center has closed. On the official website of the museum are laid out instructions on return of tickets.

Material prepared Yulia Maximova, AI

Source: artinfo.com , lemonde.fr , artinvestment. ru