The Louvre, one of the world’s most famous museums, has started a public fundraising campaign to restore the Cour du Sphinx, a historic courtyard built in 1663 by architect François Le Vau as part of expansions commissioned by King Louis XIV. This marks the first time the Louvre has sought public donations for the restoration of a building, as reported by franceinfo on October 1. The campaign is part of a new initiative called "Tous mécènes," which aims to encourage public support for cultural projects. In the past, such fundraising efforts were used to acquire artworks for the museum’s collections, but this year they are being applied to building restoration for the first time. The Cour du Sphinx is located in the Denon wing of the Louvre, which is the most visited section of the museum in Paris. It is situated near iconic artworks such as the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. The initial phase of the restoration project involves repairing the courtyard’s glass roof, which is 20 meters high and nearly 100 years old. Problems identified include water leaking into the structure and a greenhouse effect that causes temperatures to rise sharply during the summer. To address these issues, a natural ventilation system is planned as part of the renovations. The total cost of the project is expected to exceed 800,000 euros, and the fundraising campaign aims to collect this amount. However, this sum will not cover the full budget, and the museum is also seeking support from sponsor companies. There is no minimum donation requirement for contributors. The campaign, which launched on Thursday, will remain open until January 19 of next year. Recent events have underscored the need for urgent repairs to the Cour du Sphinx. These include the dramatic theft of eight royal jewels on October 19, the flooding of the library in the Egyptian antiquities department, and the closure of the Campana gallery due to the risk of a ceiling collapse. These incidents have highlighted the growing challenges the Louvre faces in maintaining its historic structures while continuing to serve as a world-renowned cultural institution.