Embattled Louvre Director Laurence des Cars Resigns | Artnet News
Artnet News
by Margaret CarriganFebruary 24, 2026
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Laurence des Cars, director of the Louvre Museum, has resigned following a series of challenges that have shaken the iconic Parisian institution. Her departure was accepted by French President Emmanuel Macron, who commended her for her dedication and scientific expertise but noted that the museum requires stability to address pressing issues like security improvements and modernization. Des Cars had been under intense scrutiny since October 2023 when a $102 million jewel heist exposed significant security flaws at one of the world’s most visited museums. Her initial offer to resign after the theft was rejected by then Culture Minister Rachida Dati, but ongoing investigations revealed systemic failures in the museum’s security infrastructure that had persisted for nearly a decade.
Des Cars faced additional criticism for her handling of a security overhaul plan inherited from her predecessor, Jean-Luc Martinez, which she sought to revise rather than implement. This delay contributed to the museum’s vulnerabilities. In December, Dati appointed Philippe Jost, a senior civil servant, to assist Des Cars in reforming the Louvre’s management—a move seen as a rebuke of her leadership. Lawmakers later released an interim report identifying “systemic failures” that allowed the heist to occur, with the full findings expected in May.
Beyond security concerns, Des Cars grappled with multiple challenges during her tenure, including staff strikes over pay and working conditions, water leaks, and a ticket fraud scandal involving museum employees. Her ambitious “Nouvelle Renaissance” project, aimed at addressing structural issues and modernizing the museum’s layout, faced criticism for its high cost and proposed changes, such as relocating Leonardo da Vinci’s
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Originally published on Artnet News on 2/24/2026