Saint-Remi Museum Reims: Artwork Evacuation Drill After Shell Impact

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French Museums bolster Heritage Protection Protocols following Notre-Dame Fire

Protecting cultural treasures from disaster is taking center stage in France, with museums increasingly focused on safeguarding artwork in teh face of potential threats. A recent full-scale exercise at the Saint-Remi Museum in Reims, Marne, underscored the growing emphasis on preparedness, spurred by the devastating 2019 fire at Notre-Dame de Paris.

Last Thursday, the Army Heritage Delegation (DELPAT) conducted a extensive drill, simulating a crisis scenario to train personnel in the rapid and effective protection of invaluable artifacts. The exercise involved a diverse team, including military curators from France’s 16 Army museums, and local firefighters from the Sdis 51 unit.

“The gestures that save” works of art were the focus of the day, with participants practicing the careful handling and preservation techniques essential in an emergency. Supplies like adhesive tapes, plastic sheeting, scissors, screwdrivers, and detailed room plans were readily available, emphasizing the importance of meticulous readiness.

The scenario presented a complex challenge: evacuating or protecting the museum’s collection under the simulated threat of structural damage. For some pieces, like a large Pieta sculpture, relocation was unfeasible. In thes cases, the team opted to cover the artwork with fireproof tarpaulins for immediate protection.

According to a project manager within DELPAT, the exercise is part of broader Army training focused on the cultural protection of property, even in the context of armed conflict. “We relocated our training to Reims for a day for a practical exercise,” the official explained.curators were tasked with evacuating items listed in the museum’s Cultural Property Safeguarding Plan (PSBC), prioritizing based on weight, volume, and rarity.

The exercise wasn’t merely theoretical.A senior official noted that the museum generously allowed the use of authentic works, giving the team valuable hands-on experience. “It’s still unique that a museum makes its authentic works available,” they said. The scenario also included a critical complication: the simulated collapse of the central staircase, forcing the team to identify choice evacuation routes.

Did you know?– France has a dedicated Army Heritage Delegation (DELPAT) responsible for protecting cultural property, even during armed conflict.

The drill tapped into a past vulnerability for the Saint-Remi Museum. The chosen scenario mirrored a 1916 bombing that completely destroyed the museum’s tapestry room, a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of conflict. Though, the director of the historical museums of Reims, Bénédicte Hernu, emphasized that the Notre-Dame fire served as the primary catalyst for a renewed focus on preventative measures. “The fire at Notre-Dame de Paris was a trigger for thinking better about evacuating works from the museum,” she stated. “I followed a webinar on this subject and it inspired the rest of my work on this subject.”

pro tip:– Museums are strategically placing emergency kits containing fire-resistant tarpaulins, screwdrivers, and adhesive tapes near artworks for rapid access during a crisis.

The museum is now prioritizing the strategic placement of emergency kits near artworks, containing essential supplies like fire-resistant tarpaulins, screwdrivers, and adhesive tapes. This ensures that critical resources are instantly accessible in a crisis.

This commitment to proactive protection is further highlighted by the museum’s current exhibition, “The Art of Protecting,” running through March. The exhibition showcases a traveling display produced by DELPAT, detailing France’s role in safeguarding cultural property in conflict zones. The Saint-Remi Museum’s efforts

Reader question:– What other preventative measures can museums take to protect their collections from natural disasters and other threats