Mucem: Marseille walks out of the museum's board after its president returns
The City of Marseille is suspending its participation in the Mucem's board of directors until steps are taken to calm the social climate. At issue: the contested return of Pierre-Olivier Costa, who faces harassment accusations he denies.
A new chapter in the crisis rocking the Mucem. The City of Marseille has suspended its participation in the board of directors of the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, AFP learned on Monday from a municipal source. The city is waiting for measures to calm the social climate within the institution.
The trigger: the return to office of the museum's president, Pierre-Olivier Costa, announced on Sunday 1 November, after he had been suspended since late June.
A letter to the minister
In a letter dated 5 November and addressed to Culture Minister Catherine Pégard, the deputy mayor in charge of cultural facilities, Gwenaël Richerolle, expressed his surprise. In his view, the return took place without any prior notice to the board members and the museum's other stakeholders.
The official also regrets the lack of information on the follow-up given to several internal reports, and on the steps taken, together with the unions, to resolve a social conflict he describes as entrenched.
A president suspended, then back
A former chief of staff to Brigitte Macron, Pierre-Olivier Costa has headed the Mucem since November 2022. He was suspended in late June following accusations of toxic management and of moral and sexual harassment, which he denies. According to AFP, the Culture Ministry had said that the suspension ended on the evening of 31 October.
Two procedures are under way. The General Inspectorate of Cultural Affairs (Igac) has opened an inquiry into what it called malaise at the Mucem. A criminal investigation into moral and sexual harassment has also been opened, following a referral by the Culture Ministry under Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Pierre-Olivier Costa says he has not yet been questioned in that case. He is presumed innocent.
In an internal message sent to staff on 1 November, he declared himself innocent of what he called inept accusations against him.
Staff ready to strike
News of his return angered employees. Meeting in a general assembly on 2 November, they voted in principle for a rolling strike, before suspending the movement the following day. As the president had not come to the museum, according to union sources, staff decided to wait: the strike will resume if he returns to the site.
Lénore Branche, a representative of the SUD Culture union, told AFP that staff had decided to wait for his possible return before resuming the strike, adding that they hoped he would not come back, Quartz reported.
The union coalition is demanding that the president's suspension be maintained and that the Igac's conclusions be made public, which in its view recommend his dismissal.
What next?
The ball is now in the court of the Culture Ministry, which received the city's letter. Until measures are announced, the City of Marseille will no longer sit on the museum's board.
