European Museum Night 2025

On Saturday 17 May 2025, the 21st European Museum Night will take place. Nearly 3,000 museums in France and Europe will be opening their doors until midnight. They will be offering fun activities and entertainment specially prepared for the occasion, including screenings, shows and illuminated tours. All the collections and entertainment on offer will be free of charge.

The origins

Initially set up on a national scale under the name ‘Printemps des musées’ (since 1999), following on from Berlin's ‘Lange Nacht des Museen’ (since 1997). It was in 2005 that this event took on a European dimension, giving rise to the ‘European Night of the Museums’. This initiative, promoted by the French Ministry of Culture and sponsored by UNESCO, the Council of Europe and ICOM, is designed to encourage and promote knowledge of national and European heritage and cultural identity. The Ministry of Culture is organising the event with the support of the Regional Directorates of Cultural Affairs (DRAC).

THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN THE 2025 EDITION

More than 30 European countries will be taking part in this project. They include Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania.

In France, every region is involved, whether metropolitan or overseas.

OVERVIEW OF FORTHCOMING EVENTS

In France 

At the Museum of Guianese Cultures, there will be a show entitled Les marionnettes contées de Sandra (Sandra's Storytelling Puppets), a conference-debate entitled La Brique de Guyane dans tous ses états (Guianese Bricks in All Their Forms), and an exhibition entitled Regards croisés entre marionnettes et architectures (Crossing Perspectives between Puppets and Architecture). Relaxation evenings at the two sites, such as Rediscovery of three legends from Guyana and Popular board games enter the museum, as well as a tasting of ‘real’ Creole soup, will also be available. 

In Europe

MAJOR PROJECTS IN FRANCE

THE CLASS, THE WORK

The ‘La classe, l'œuvre’ scheme is run jointly by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Research. Launched in 2013, the project is open to pupils from nursery school to high school. Students become creators, mediators and performers. By studying one or more works in the collections of the Musées de France, FRACs, art centres or Maisons des Illustres, the students, accompanied by their teachers, give free rein to their creativity. Their creations, whether visual, literary, scenic or digital, are presented to the public during the European Night of the Museums.

This year, the Musée du Revermont in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes will be unveiling the work of the CE2 class from the Moulin de Val-Revermont school on the temporary exhibition ‘Invitation aux nuages’, accompanied by an ‘Astro Quizz’. In the Hauts-de-France region, the museum in Boulogne-sur-Mer and pupils from Jules Ferry will be taking visitors on a journey from the English Channel to the Pacific Ocean. Pupils become ‘cultural ambassadors’. 

A few figures: the ‘The class, the work’ operation involves 6,125 participants in 311 projects in 462 classes in 281 schools and 254 participating museums.

NATIONAL GUIDE TO RURAL MUSEUMS

One of the objectives pursued during this 21st edition is to highlight French museums in rural areas. This project has been awarded the "exhibition of national interest" label. Thus, this Culture and Rurality plan is being implemented in collaboration with the Grand Palais Rmn via the National Guide to Rural Museums, presented as a web application, available for the European Night of Museums on May 17.

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND TECHNICAL DESIGN OF THE POSTER

Regarding the event poster, Clotilde Puy, who was entrusted by the Ministry of Culture with responsibility for the visuals, was responsible. The Ministry's instructions specified stop-motion animation and paper cutouts to create a dancing animation. Thus, in collaboration with graphic designer Elsa Antoine, Clotilde Puy created this unique work in bright colors using the tufting technique. Having discovered this technique during the first lockdown, the artist began tufting five years ago. The 110 cm high by 90 cm wide tapestry was created using a wool gun on the back of a stretched canvas. The canvas was then photographed by Claire Curt to bring the poster to life.

The distinctly shaped patterns create a clear and expressive effect. An amphora symbolizing Greece and the European aspect of the event, a pyramid evoking the museums of France, and more contemporary silhouettes and ornaments adorn the work. Clotilde Puy's sources of inspiration are primarily Niki de Saint Phalle and Matisse.

The use of the tufting technique can be seen both as a showcase for crafts within culture and as a tribute to women. Indeed, tapestry, long considered a discredited feminine art, has become a notorious object of communication. Contrasting with the visuals of previous editions, this poster is bound to be noticed.

Already booked this Saturday, May 17, or too far from home to get there, find our most beautiful museum visits on our video-on-demand platform thanks to our "Visit" collection as well as daily on Museum TV.