The Musée Picasso has been under renovation for over two years and the grand reopening has been postponed until June. Anne Baldassari, the museum’s president has been considered the center of the blame for this misfortune, with harsh criticism of her leadership style and her unwillingness to comply with other museums’ requests for loans.
However a closer examination would show that Ms. Baldassari may not be the cause for this blame. She managed to raise $41 million for the makeover of exporting artworks for exhibition abroad, during a financial crisis. She also has allies that include the Picasso family who defend her leadership.
Ms. Baldassari is poring her heart and soul into this renovation. She has also been quoted saying “I work all the time. I have nothing but worries. I’m criticized. My sole compensation is this building — to produce a building that is the most perfect in its concept.”
The museum has undergone renovation already to replace the windows to make them bulletproof, and the museums public space will nearly triple to around 58,000 square feet by the end of the renovations. Once the museum reopens there will be one exhibition per year instead of five.
ArticleLink:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/arts/design/picasso-museum-makeover-drags-on.html?ref=design
