ARC @ ICOM France Museums Under Pressure

2 June 2026 | 6pm – 8:30pm CEST
L’École du Louvre/Zoom
Paris, France
Simultaneous interpretation available in English, French, and Spanish.

ARC – Artists at Risk Connection will join an evening debate hosted by ICOM France in Paris and online to discuss the growing pressures facing artistic, curatorial, and academic freedom across the cultural sector.

Drawing on the findings of the recent CESE report Countering Obstacles to Freedom of Artistic Creation and Dissemination, the discussion will explore how museums, heritage institutions, and exhibition spaces are increasingly confronted with censorship, political and social pressure, foreign influence, and self-censorship. At a time when society is becoming increasingly polarized and opinions are voiced with growing hostility, often without nuance, museums are subject to multiple pressures. These pressures, and the forms of self-censorship they generate, represent a real threat to democracy and to the museum’s social and civic mission.

The debate will address urgent questions facing cultural institutions today: How can museums continue to guarantee the conditions for civic dialogue, encourage critical thinking, and foster meaningful exchange? How can they continue to exhibit controversial works and address sensitive histories while safeguarding curatorial and academic freedom?

Organized by the French Committee for Art History (CFHA), APAHAU, ICOM France, and École du Louvre, the event reflects a growing collective awareness of the threats facing scientific and artistic freedom, and a shared effort to identify new ways to study, debate, and share ideas in an increasingly challenging environment.

Program

Official Opening Remarks

• Claire Barbillon, Director of the École du Louvre
• Olivier Bonfait, President of the CFHA (French Committee for Art History)
• Émilie Girard, President of ICOM France

Speakers

• Souâd Belhaddad, journalist and former member of the CESE
• Xavier de la Selle, Director of the Museums of History and Society of Lyon
• Vincent Moisselin, Director of Syndeac and former member of the CESE
• Manon Six, Director of the Museums of Le Mans
• Julie Trébault, Director of ARC – Artists at Risk Connection

Moderator

Hélène Jagot, Director of the Château and Museums of Tours