Football fever is spilling over into French museums and galleries for the next month as France plays host to the 15th UEFA European championship (until 10 July). The Louvre-Lens is leading the pack, welcoming fans with an exhibition celebrating its local club RC Lens, titled RC Louvre: Memories of Blood and Gold (until 17 November). The show traces the history of the team and its stadium, the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, which is visible outside of the glass pavilion gallery space. On display are mementos and testimonies from RC Lens fans, former players and coaches as well as archival material and contemporary art works.
Also hoping to take full advantage of the influx of tourists, Lyon has announced a programme of cultural events. Three exhibitions in the city look into football’s sociological role: Heavenly Football at Musées Gadagne (until 4 September); Democracy through Football at Part-Dieu city library (until 3 September); and Sport in wartime at Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation (22 June to 29 January 2017). "We want this to not only be a popular sporting event but to give it a cultural dimension too," said Lyon's deputy mayor Georges Kénépékian at a press conference.
But whether such football shows will convert into added footfall remains to be seen. The northern city of Lens, historically known for its coal mining industry and now for its Louvre outpost, is hosting four matches and around 100,000 fans are expected to travel there, more than quadrupling the population. “We should be able to welcome the crowds, but will supporters make the effort to come to the museum before the matches?” asks Bruno Cappelle, a press officer at the Louvre-Lens. The museum is not in the town centre and the car parks will be dedicated to the UEFA organisation on match days, while the free shuttle that usually goes from the train station to the museum will not operate. However, the museum will be promoted in the Lens fan zone with the stadium being only a ten minute walk away.
