With nearly 20,000 visitors in less than two months since its reopening, in Castres, the Goya museum, renovated and enlarged, is breaking attendance records. And it’s not over !
If further proof was needed that the rebirth of the goya museum is a success, just look at the numbers. In less than two months, the Castres museum, which houses the largest collection of Hispanic art from the Middle Ages to the present day in France after the Louvre, has welcomed almost as many visitors as in a year.
Since its reopening on April 15, after three years of renovation work, nearly 20,000 visitors (19,681 at the last count on Tuesday evening) have discovered or rediscovered the Goya Museum. This figure is all the more remarkable given that before construction began, the museum welcomed around 25,000 visitors a year.
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A result that inevitably delights Joëlle Arches, the director of the Goya museum, curator of the museums of Castres, who worked a lot with her team to make the transformation of the building and its museographic journey a success. This even exceeds his expectations for the moment. “If it continues at this rate, we will exceed the forecast that we had set”, she analyzes even if she wants to remain cautious. Since attendance has necessarily been boosted by “strong local expectations” after 3 years of closure.
“Very effective communication”
“For the reopening weekend, we had a steady stream of visitors. The date was well chosen. We benefited from a favorable window without too many competing events, and ahead of the Easter holidays and the big bridge weekends in May”, recalls Joëlle Arches who then saw over the weeks ” a clientele” gradually expand to all of Occitania and Spain thanks to “very effective communication”.
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The 19th European Night of Museums, in mid-May, also contributed to this good attendance with nearly 1,000 visitors. More than 1,000 schoolchildren have passed through the doors of the museum to take part in the workshops offered by the structure or on a free visit with their teachers. The temporary exhibition dedicated to Miro also “did its part” in this good first assessment according to the curator. Word of mouth did the rest.
“We have indeed a considerable satisfaction rate,” continues the director, referring in particular to the comments on the guestbook. People recognize the work that has been done to preserve the historic building and present the works in a contemporary yet respectful way of history. That was the priority: respecting the past while bringing a touch of modernity”. And today the Goya Museum is compared to the largest museum. “It’s hyperflattering”, confides Joëlle Arches who is now working to “continue this call for air”.
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Starred in the Michelin green guide
It is counting in particular on the next temporary exhibition “Goya in the eye of Picasso” from June 30 to October 1, designed and produced by the Goya museum as part of the “Picasso Celebration 1973-2023: 50 exhibitions and events to celebrate Picasso », with the exceptional support of the Picasso-Paris National Museum.
The notoriety of the Goya museum has not stopped growing. In particular, it has just obtained a star in the new 2023 edition of the Michelin Green Guide. This distinction means that the site is “worth the visit”. The stars of the Michelin Green Guides are awarded according to nine criteria, discussed and validated by a team made up of editors and authors. El País, the major Spanish daily, even ranked the Goya Museum among the 15 reasons to come to France!
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