In France, The École du Louvre Hosts Louis Vuitton As Its first Patron In The Luxury Sector

Under the authority of the French Ministry of Culture, the École du Louvre, founded in 1882, is a public higher education institution recognized internationally for its unique proximity to the works of art. It provides in-depth education in art history, archaeology, epigraphy, anthropology and museology. Until now, the school has been supported mainly by foundations involved in art, culture, research and science, or by banking institutions, but for the first time a luxury brand has joined its “patrons’ wall”.

The LVMH group is committed to funding scholarships for eight students over a period of three years: two doctoral students, whose research focuses on topics related to the history of the company and its collections, as well as six undergraduate or master's students. According to the Glitz media, these scholarships will amount to 10,000 euros each.

With this initiative, Pietro Beccari, CEO of Louis Vuitton, affirms his commitment to education, research and cultural heritage, in a place that is emblematic for the brand, as it is in the Cour du Louvre that it regularly organizes its fashion shows. Behind this donation, we must also see Louis Vuitton's interest: by encouraging students to deepen their research on its collections, the luxury house ensures the lasting transmission of its history and know-how.

However, this is not the first time that LVMH has shown interest in the Louvre: Glitz reports that in 2024, Dior Couture and Dior Parfums financed the redevelopment and revegetation of the Tuileries Garden, a location prized by the fashion house for its annual Fashion Week shows. Other actions, such as the acquisition of a work at auction and participation in the Louvre Endowment Fund, are also mentioned.

Meanwhile, the Louvre is constantly strengthening its ties with fashion and luxury. Since January 24, the museum is hosting for the first time in its history an exhibition entirely dedicated to fashion, spanning nearly 9,000 square meters and showcasing designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Dolce & Gabbana, Yohji Yamamoto and Jacques Doucet. But that's not all. At the end of January, the museum announced that it would be organizing an exceptional event inspired by the Met Gala to coincide with the exhibition. Scheduled for March 4, the “Grand Fashion Dinner” - which is already making waves in the private sphere of fashion - is expected to attract the biggest names in the industry.

Behind this growing relationship between the Louvre and the luxury industry, is there a broader strategy on the part of the museum to assert its international reputation and strengthen its influence on the world of culture?