The French Ministry of Culture and Communication has announced the start of the second phase of an important restoration campaign involving the extension of the Franco-American National Museum at the castle of Blérancourt. The project’s objectives includes enlarging the areas allocated for permanent collections, creating a showroom for temporary expositions and arranging space for new exhibits. The work was entrusted to architects Yves Lion and Alan Levitt, who successfully completed the first phase of the restoration project (the restoration-extension of the Pavillon Florence Gould). The first stage endeavours received the L'Equerre d'argent award in 1989. The restoration work will commence during the second half of 2005 and for this purpose the museum will be closed from July to allow for the preparation of the building site. The reopening of the museum is planned for spring 2007. In the meantime collections will be displayed at the American museum of Giverny as a long-term temporary exhibition, commencing July 10 2005. The Nouveau Monde gardens located in the park of the national museum of the Franco-American Co-operation of the castle of Blérancourt will remain throughout the restoration period. For further information (in French), CLICK HERE