Paris (AFP)
The diocese of Paris has launched a call for funds, to the tune of 5 to 6 million euros, to finance the interior fittings of Notre-Dame de Paris, which are not covered by the national subscription dedicated to its restoration, a- he announced Monday.
Mgr Michel Aupetit, Archbishop of Paris, explained that he wanted "to bring the cathedral into the 21st century, while maintaining the preservation of its own identity, in the spirit of Christian Tradition".
The collection of the "Cathedral Fund" carried out under the aegis of the Notre-Dame Foundation, will henceforth be devoted to this objective: a vast program of interior fittings which "requires a new fundraising evaluated for at least 5 to 6 million euros ".
Among the artists selected, several will donate their creation.
Sponsorship will be sought.
The American foundation "Friends of Notre Dame de Paris" will support this campaign.
The law of July 2019 on the restoration of the building strictly regulates the national subscription, which relates to the conservation and the restoration of the building, property of the State.
The Notre-Dame Foundation, chosen after the fire in April 2019 as one of the four foundations authorized to receive funds from the national subscription, collected 85.8 million euros in donations.
In total, 267.7 million euros in donations were collected for the work on the monument severely damaged by the fire of April 15, 2019.
The interior design program is entirely the responsibility of the assignee, the Church.
The work will aim in particular to offer a new visit route to the six million faithful, pilgrims and annual tourists.
The projects cover, among other things, furniture, lighting, sound, an extension of the choir organ.
After a phase of several months devoted to the consolidation of the building, the actual restoration work will start after the summer.
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