Much needed cash injection to help restoration.
There's a flurry of activity at Monaco's Oceanographic Museum. The institution has been given 2 million euros by the Government to help spruce up the building and exhibits in preparation for centenary celebrations next year.
The museum is one of the most visited attractions on the French Riviera, but numbers have been decreasing. Robert Calcagno, the museum's Director since April 2009, is hoping to turn things around. Chandeliers and floors are once again sparkling, offices have been refurbished and lecture rooms are being fitted out with conference equipment. Exhibits that have never been touched since the museum opened 100 years ago are being restored. Over the years the giant squid on the first floor has lost 2 of its tentacles, an event unnoticed by the tourists, but deplored by the scientists. It's now being sent away for a complete restoration.
But this is just the start. Over the next 5 years, the museum will benefit from a further 30 million euros. How the cash will be spent is still to be revealed, and for now Calcagno is concentrating on the 2010 anniversary celebrations. He intends to give the institution some much needed stability, which has been lacking since going through 5 different directors in the past 7 years. As the museum's first Monegasque director, his philosophy is to renovate and modernize while retaining a sense of history and heritage.
In spite of it being so symbolic of Monaco, the museum is in fact a French institution. Along with the Fondation Albert 1er, it forms part of the Institut Oceanographique, based in Paris, whose mission is to understand the ocean. Calcagno is not only the first Monegasque to be in charge of the museum, but he's also head of the Fondation too. We hope his leadership sets in motion another successful 100 years.
