The invasion of Ukraine by Russia also has an impact on cultural life. In the north, the county council renounces to lend 280 works by Matisse to China.
These works from the Matisse museum, in Cateau-Cambrésis, were to be shipped in a few weeks, for two exhibitions planned in Beijing from the end of March, then in Shanghai from this summer.
The various-right president of the department, Christian Poiret, explains that he made this decision because of the existing political ties between Beijing and Moscow. According to him, it is difficult to obtain visas to follow the works on their entire route and he would therefore not have sufficient guarantees as to their return to the North.
The department has decided to interrupt its cultural partnership with Chinese establishments.