The museum market - France

The global museum market, which encompasses not only museums but also historical sites, zoos, and parks, was valued at $41.84 billion in 2020. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the market was expected to grow by 16%, reaching $48.53 billion in 2021, with further growth anticipated to hit $63.84 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 7%. North America led the market share in 2020 with 33%, followed by Asia-Pacific at 29% and Europe. The impact of the pandemic was notably severe, particularly for French museums, which saw a drastic drop in attendance and revenue in 2020. The Louvre, for example, experienced a 72% decrease in visitors, only welcoming 2.7 million compared to 9.6 million in the previous year. The market size of museums in France also saw a significant decline of 47% in 2020 versus 2019, but a modest recovery of 21% the following year. Additionally, the museum sector saw a shift toward digital offerings, such as virtual tours, in response to pandemic restrictions. Museum financing remains a critical issue for the sector, with both public and private investment playing significant roles.

Trending Growth in Museum Attendance and the Prominent Role of Art Collections

The market for museums in the specified country has experienced a notable upward trajectory over the past decade, particularly in regions rich in art collections. Museum attendance soared to over 65 million visitors. This growth has not been consistent, with fluctuations characterized by an initial surge, a temporary dip between 2014 and 2016, and a rebound in subsequent years until 2019. A deeper look into the visitor statistics reveals that over one-third of the museums cater to art collections, constituting about 34%, and a slightly lower proportion, around 32%, is dedicated to history.

However, these figures contrast with the actual distribution of visitors, wherein art museums account for roughly 65% of total museum-goers, indicating their significant pull factor despite being only one-third of the total museums. Conversely, history museums draw around 18% of visitors, and society, civilization, nature, science, and technology museums attract 17%.

From a geographical perspective, the Île-de-France region stands as a cultural epicenter, claiming about 57% of the total museum attendance, implying that more than half of museum visits occur in this region alone. This concentration is further accentuated by the fact that just five museums within the region command over 35% of total national museum visits. Looking at the segmented data by regions, regions like Brittany and Normandy revealed noteworthy progress, with visitor numbers surging by around 40% to 50%. Museums in the French overseas departments, however, see relatively lower attendance, hinting at the geographical disparities influencing demand in the market.

The analysis of museum-goers’ profiles sheds light on a few trends. Youth, particularly those between 15 and 19 years old, are the most frequent museum attendees, with around 35% visiting museums annually. Seniors over 75 years old are the least likely to visit museums, bringing up the lower end of the attendance spectrum at 16%. Women have a slightly higher museum attendance rate than men, signaling gendered differences in cultural consumption. Educational attainment is directly correlated with museum visits. Individuals with higher education degrees show the highest attendance rate at over 50%, creating a stark disparity when compared to those with lower educational qualifications. Employment status also seems to influence museum attendance, with executives making up the majority of visitors at around 60%.

Prominent Institutions and Cultural Entities Shaping the French Museum Landscape

The French museum sector is comprised of a diverse array of institutions and organizations, each playing a pivotal role in preserving and presenting cultural heritage. Here are some of the noteworthy players that stand out in the landscape:

• The Louvre Museum : Arguably the most renowned museum not only in France but across the globe, the Louvre holds the prestigious title for being the most-visited museum. Its extensive collections span thousands of years and a multitude of civilizations, attracting millions of art lovers and history enthusiasts annually.

• Centre Pompidou : Known for its high-tech architectural design, the Centre Pompidou houses the National Museum of Modern Art and is a hub for contemporary art lovers. The center offers a multidisciplinary approach to culture, intertwining visual arts, literature, music, cinema, and more.

• Musée d'Orsay : Housed in a former railway station, the Musée d'Orsay is a treasure trove of French art dating from 1848 to 1914. It holds the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces worldwide, featuring works by artists such as Monet and Van Gogh.

• Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie : As the largest science museum in Europe, this Parisian museum is geared towards exploration, innovation, and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Its interactive exhibits and planetarium are especially popular with younger audiences.

• Culturespaces : As a private company, Culturespaces manages numerous historical monuments and museums across France. It plays a crucial role in the promotion of art and heritage through the management and curation of diverse cultural sites.

• Micro-Folies : A unique project under the cultural democracy initiative, Micro-Folies brings museum collections to life through digital means. It aims to make culture more accessible to the public, particularly in underserved communities, by offering digital access to seminal works from France's national collections.

• MUCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations): Based in Marseille, MUCEM is dedicated to showcasing the many facets of Mediterranean civilization, merging anthropology, history, archaeology, and contemporary art within its ambit.

• Louvre-Lens: A satellite branch of the Louvre, this museum in the Pas-de-Calais region, further decentralizes access to art, bringing masterpieces of the iconic Parisian museum closer to audiences outside the capital.

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : 30 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 25/03/2022

Summary and extracts

List of charts

• Evolution of the attendance of the museums of France
• Distribution of museums by type of collection
• Distribution of museum attendance by type of collection
• Répartition et fréquentation des musées par type de collection
• Proportion of people who visited a museum in the last 12 months by age group
• Proportion of people who visited a museum in the last 12 months by gender
• Proportion of people who visited a museum in the last 12 months by degree
• Proportion of people who visited a museum in the last 12 months by social category
• Proportion of people who visited a museum in the last 12 months by urban unit
• Proportion of people who visited a museum or exhibition in the past 12 months
• Arrivals of foreign tourists in France according to their area of residence
• Arrivals of foreign tourists in France according to their continent of residence
• Exports and imports of art, collectibles and antiques
• Size of the global museum market
• Market size of museums in France
• Number of establishments registered under activities 91.02Z and 91.03Z
• Employees registered under the activities 91.02Z and 91.03Z
• Distribution of museums by type of collection
• Budget of the Ministry of Culture dedicated to Heritage
• Distribution of credits within program 175 "Heritage
• Private funding tools used by museums