The Pasteur Museum gets involved in the "Nuit Blanche" in Paris on October 6

For the 2018 edition of the "Nuit Blanche" night-time event in Paris on October 6, the District Hall of the 15th arrondissement and the Institut Pasteur are inviting visitors to an evening outing with a historical, artistic flavor.

The evening's program features a tour of the Pasteur Museum, the apartment belonging to Louis and Marie Pasteur that has been preserved as it would have been at the time, giving visitors a glimpse into the daily life of the father of modern biology and also revealing lesser-known aspects of his life, such as his talents as a painter.

The night owls will also be given access to a confidential venue brimming with history, the Salle des Actes, which serves as a striking example of how contemporary art can inhabit a space that still bears the imprint of the past. The display cases in this historical venue – where the Institut Pasteur officially came into being all those years ago – have been specially redesigned by Hervé Di Rosa, a proponent of the concept of "modest art". By juxtaposing his artistic creations with the objects housed in the room's 26 display cases, Hervé Di Rosa has created a new narrative that skillfully blends Louis Pasteur's story with those of the researchers that have followed in his footsteps – together with their techniques and discoveries.

This approach creates an eye-opening link between science and art, both of which have the power to change the world and the ability to transcend the borders created by categories, geography and time.

The Pasteur Museum and the Salle des Actes will be open from 7 to 10pm. Under the Vigipirate national security alert system, any Institut Pasteur staff interested in coming along to this evening event with their friends and family should send an email to Muriel Hilaire (muriel.hilaire-soule@pasteur.fr), curator of the museum, to register their guests. An ID document will be requested at the entrance.

To make sure this event runs as smoothly as possible, the museum team is looking for volunteers to guide visitors and provide any information needed. If you are interested in taking part in the "Nuit Blanche" at the museum as a volunteer, please send a message to Muriel Hilaire, muriel.hilaire-soule@pasteur.fr, who can give you more details about the role and the related HR measures that have been taken.