Employees of Monnaie de Paris Launch Petition to Protect Their Site
By Sebastian Wieschowski
In his role as a union delegate for the CFE-CGC office at Monnaie de Paris, deputy sales director Rodolphe Krempp invited his professional contacts to sign a petition defending the Paris location of Monnaie de Paris. Just a few days after the call, the petition has already reached its target of 1,000 signatures.
The facade of Monnaie de Paris on Quai de Conti. Photo: Gilles Targat / Monnaie de Paris.
What is the petition about? The future “Maison des Mondes Africains,” a joint project of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, may potentially be housed in the Hôtel de la Monnaie de Paris. “This historic site, in service to minting coins since 1775, is deeply tied to France’s history,” states the petition’s description. The decision to integrate this new institution there without prior consultation has raised concerns among Monnaie de Paris employees and could endanger the building’s long-standing mission, explains Rodolphe Krempp, the petition’s initiator.
Krempp elaborates that the building is a listed heritage site that hosts a museum, art workshops, exhibition spaces, and restaurants, including the Michelin-starred restaurant Guy Savoy. “Monnaie de Paris plays a unique cultural and educational role, which it entirely self-finances, attracting numerous visitors and school groups each year for educational projects,” states the petition.
According to Krempp, establishing another institution on the site could jeopardize the balance of activities and lead to significant economic and social consequences. Specifically, he fears potential relocations or even job cuts. The identity of this unique place would be threatened, and the associated costs could severely impact Monnaie de Paris’s budget, Krempp warns.
