Multiple cultural venues in Paris to close Saturday due to planned demonstrations

PARIS, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Several cultural venues, including the Louvre Museum, will be closed on Saturday due to planned demonstrations in Paris, said the French Culture Ministry in a statement.

The Orsay Museum, the Picasso Museum, the Orangerie Museum and the Grand Palais will also be closed on Saturday, it said.

Art Basel, the international contemporary art fair currently being held at the Grand Palais, has decided to end early on Friday evening, scrapping its original plans to remain open over the weekend.

The ministry called on all institutions under its supervision to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of visitors, the protection of staff and the preservation of artworks.

Around 550,000 people took part in protests across France on Saturday. A total of 2,397 people were arrested during the protests marred by violence, according to figures released by the French Interior Ministry on Sunday. A total of 997 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously.