Cover Three new underwater sculpture galleries are set to open in France this Autumn (Photo: Getty Images)

The private underwater sculpture galleries will each be stationed in different locations off the coast of France

While museums around the globe are slowly starting to reopen to the public—or at least go digital—art curators and sculptors in France have proven to be a little more creative when it comes to finding socially distanced solutions for patrons of the art.

Art collector Francois Ollandini has recently submerged three sculptures by renowned artist Marc Petit into the Mediterranean Sea under the Isolella Tower near Ajaccio—a town on the French island of Corsica.

According to a Matador Network report, Ollandini has also commissioned 18 other sculptures from Marc Petit, which are all set to be submerged in a location that has yet to be determined but will likely be in a fishing and sailing-free space on the coast of Ajaccio. All of the works are set to become part of a collection that Ollandini intends to gift to the city museum, Palais Fesch.

Following the trend of aquatic galleries, Petit is also set to contribute a sculpture to the Musée Subaquatique, a snorkeling attraction in Marseille that is set to open this month. The underwater exhibition will include 10 pieces by different artists, all of which will be installed 16 feet under water near the Les Catalans beach in the city centre.

Finally, a submarine display is also set to open in early November to the south of Sainte Marguerite in the Bay of Cannes. Curated and conceptualised by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, the underwater sculpture garden will include a selection of six sculptures based on casts from faces of local volunteers and will be placed just 13 feet below the surface so art enthusiasts can catch a glimpse without the need of scuba equipment.

With these three promising aquatic sculpture projects in place in such a short period of time, it’s clear that the concept of underwater galleries is something that’s here to stay—looks like it’s time we invest in some swimming goggles.

See also: 10 Of The Most Unique Museums Around The World