PARIS, FRANCE

After COVID-19 forced the closure of the Musée Grévin for more than six months, the wax museum in Paris has now reopened. The head of Sir Elton John’s wax figure was one of many to undergo a renovation ahead of the museum’s reopening. Created in 1882, the Grévin Museum is one of the oldest wax museums in Europe, and contains around 450 characters ranging from figures in historical French scenes to contemporary celebrities.

Museums, large galleries and other cultural centres in France were allowed to welcome visitors back from 19 May after French President Emmanuel Macron gave the green light for reopening. “We must rediscover our French way of life, while remaining prudent and responsible,” the president said. The French Government laid out a four-step roadmap out of its third national lockdown imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. Cultural spaces had been closed since October when France entered its second lockdown. While much of the economy reopened in mid-December, cultural venues remained closed.

The government has come under fire for its lack of support for the arts sector during the pandemic. There have been numerous petitions, protests and pleas for the reopening of cultural spaces. Even now that museums are able to reopen, health protocols will be in place. Yves Delhommeau, the director of the Musée Grévin, said, “We are happy to reopen even if it is with a very limited capacity, since we will only be able to accommodate 200 people at the same time.”