A Journey Through France: Reflecting on the 2024 Museums Next Generation Program

Launched in 2023 by the French Embassy in the U.S. and Villa Albertine, Museums Next Generation is an exchange and immersion program for the next generation of French and American curators.   

For its second edition, seven American curators were selected in summer 2024 for a 10-day immersion trip to explore France’s museum ecosystem and meet with French professionals.  

Explore the exciting lineup of visits and meetings, ranging from historic institutions in Paris to an in-depth exploration of both modern and medieval fine arts in Strasbourg and Nancy. 

Schedule:  

Day 1: A Grand Opening in Paris 

The ten-day journey began at the French Ministry of Culture’s Museum Department with insightful discussions on the French museum ecosystem and policy and the French American Museum Exchange program (FRAME), giving American participants a better understanding of the centralized management of French museums.  

At noon, participants were invited for lunch with the team of the Institut National du Patrimoine,  a higher education institute that selects and provides foundational training to curators and conservators.  This meeting produced insightful discussions on new professions and training needs of museum curators with its the institution’s director Charles Personnaz and Séverine Blenner-Michel, Head of Curator Studies.  

In the afternoon, participants had a private discussion with Laurence des Cars, Director of the Louvre. She shared her vision for the Louvre for the 21^st Century and the challenges and priorities for the years to come.  

At the Louvre, participants additionally attended the opening of the highly anticipated exhibitions Figure du fou and Revoir Watteau: Un comédien sans réplique.  

Day 2: Musée du Quai Branly, the Centre Pompidou, and the Musée Carnavalet 

On the second day, participants visited the Musée du Quai Branly to meet with Anne-Solene Rolland, Director of Collections and Heritage, Gaëlle Beaujean-Baltzer, Curator of African Art, and Eléonore Kissel, Head of the Restauration and Conservation Department. It was an opportunity to discuss the issues related to provenances and restitutions and learn about the many collaborative projects that the museum is developing with the countries of origin of their collections. 

The afternoon featured a visit to the Olga do Amaral exhibition at Fondation Cartier with the exhibition’s coordinator Aby Gaye. Philippe Lê, Director of Architectural and Technical Affairs, also shared with the delegation information on the construction of a new building designed to host the Fondation Cartier starting in 2025, located next to the Louvre, which some of the participants had the chance to visit the following Saturday.

Day 3: The US Embassy in Paris, Musee d’Orsay, and the MNG Alumni Reunion  

The day began with a warm welcome at the U.S. Embassy and a tour of the historic Talleyrand Hotel, renowned for its elegant diplomatic salons. At the Musée d’Orsay, participants engaged in enriching discussions with Paul Perrin, Director of Collections and his team, on their current projects and the challenge of adopting a more ecological approach while renewing visitor experiences. They also shared their plan to create a study center to strengthen their work in provenance research. Finally, the team discussed the place of AI and new technologies in the museum, with feedback on the immersive exhibitions recently developed and their reception by visitors. 

The evening concluded with a gathering of past laureates and Museum Next Generation program supporters at the splendid Palais Galliera – Fashion Museum of Paris, a private venue, which generously opened its doors for the occasion.  The evening offered American participants the opportunity to meet with former French participants of the program from past years.  

Day 4: POUSH and Art Basel Paris 

Participants began the day at POUSH in Aubervilliers, where Co-Founder and Director Hervé Digne and Alexandre Colliex from Manifesto provided a tour of their dynamic artist hub and insights into its innovative support model. The participants met many of the artists that are currently in residence in this original institution, followed by lunch at the Poush café.  

In the afternoon, they visited the Musée Rodin for a meeting with Director Amélie Simier and Marketing Director Catherine Duchêne, exploring the museum’s history, economic strategies, and global initiatives. They also toured the original Corps In.visibles exhibition with curator Marine Kisiel.  

The evening concluded in style with VIP access to the opening of Art Basel Paris, showcasing cutting-edge contemporary art.  

Day 5: Palais Galliera, Musée Carnavalet, and Viva Villa at Gaîté Lyrique

The day began at the Palais Galliera – Fashion Museum of Paris, where participants attended a presentation on Paris Musées by Celine Marchand and discussed the challenges of operating a fashion museum with its director Miren Arzalluz. Additionally, they addressed the challenge of bringing more diversity to museums. 

In the afternoon, the group explored Parisian history at Musée Carnavalet, meeting curators Hélène Ducaté, Anne de Mondenard, and Anne-Laure Sol, and Susanna Muston, Deputy Head of Public Programs. They shared their experiences of introducing new narratives and more diversity in their galleries while rethinking historical collections. They also discussed strategies to better engage local audiences, with a strong focus on schools.  

The evening wrapped up with the vibrant Viva Villa party at Gaîté Lyrique, celebrating four French Villas’ global cultural initiatives, and featuring a multi-cultural concert in the iconic venue.  

Day 6 – 8: An Exploration of Paris and Strasbourg 

After taking time to explore Paris, participants journeyed east to the enchanting city of Strasbourg. Thanks to Emilie Girard, the Director of the Museums of Strasbourg, they visited the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain and the Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame, engaging in discussions with museum teams about their collections and curatorial practices. The day also included a visit to the Palais Rohan, where they explored its Decorative Arts and Fine Arts galleries, and discussed acquisition strategies and museography. 

Day 9: A Day in Nancy  

Marking the third and final stop of their tour, the group travelled to another gem of the East, Nancy. Participants began the day at the Palais des Ducs de Lorraine – Musée Lorrain, where Frédérique Gaujacq, responsible for museum collections, presented the shared reserve of museums on the city’s outskirts. They then heard from Richard Dargone, Director of the Museums of Nancy, who shared insights on the ongoing renovation project at the Lorraine Museum at the Ducal Palace.  

In the afternoon, the group visited the Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy, where curators Sophie Laroche and Kenza-Marie Safraoui presented the thought-provoking exhibition Should We Burn the Museums? They also met with Lucie Chappé, head of the public department, who provided an overview of the museum’s public programming.  

Day 10 – FRAME Congress 

To round off the trip, participants began the day with a visit to Villa Majorelle, guided by Valérie Thomas, Director of the École de Nancy Museum, followed by a tour of the École de Nancy Museum. The discussions centered around the intersection of art, architecture, and regional heritage, highlighting the museum’s significance in preserving the Art Nouveau movement.  

In the afternoon, the group arrived at the Museum of Fine Arts for an impactful conference on the theme Research from, Issues and Practices in France and the United States. Catherine Chevillot, General Curator at the Ministry of Culture, and Lucian Simmons, Head of Provenance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, led discussions on provenance research and its challenges. The day concluded with the opening of Visions, a photography exhibition showcasing three innovative projects, followed by an evening cocktail reception at the Foyer de l’Opéra, hosted by FRAME, bringing together cultural professionals for further networking and reflection  

See the full list of participants here.   

Interested in taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure? Stay tuned for more information about our 2025 call for US candidates here.