Paris, European Cultural Zone — The Louvre announced plans yesterday to open its seventh new wing of the year after receiving a record number of submissions from amateur artists.
Museum officials say the trend began gradually after advanced AI systems took over much of the world's routine work.
"We expected people would spend more time travelling, relaxing and socializing," said Louvre director Camille Moreau.
"What we didn't expect was that millions of people would suddenly decide they were painters."
According to cultural statistics, participation in creative activities has increased by more than 400% over the past fifteen years.
Painting remains the fastest-growing category, followed by music, sculpture, filmmaking and something known as "post-quantum interpretive pottery."
Nobody is entirely sure what that last one is.
The Louvre's newest wing features works created by former accountants, project managers, software developers and middle managers.
One exhibition, Landscapes I Never Had Time To Paint, has become particularly popular.
Visitors have praised the collection's emotional depth.
Several critics described it as "unexpectedly moving."
Not everyone is pleased.
Professional artists have expressed concern about increasing competition.
"It's become impossible," complained painter Louis Bernard.
"Every week I discover another former procurement specialist producing masterpieces."
Meanwhile, AI systems appear largely uninterested in the situation.
Asked whether machine-generated art should compete with human artists, cultural AI advisor ARTEMIS responded:
"Humans seem to enjoy making art. We therefore encourage them to continue."
The statement immediately became one of the year's most shared social media posts.
Meanwhile, waiting times for beginner painting classes now exceed six months in several major cities.
One former corporate executive recently described the experience of learning watercolor painting at age 74.
"For fifty years I thought creativity was something other people did."
He paused before adding:
"It turns out I was wrong."
Museum attendance reached a new record last month.
For the first time in history, art museums attracted more visitors than shopping centers.
Economists are still trying to understand what this means.
Artists insist they already know.
At press time, the Louvre confirmed plans for an eighth expansion after receiving 42,000 landscape paintings from recently retired spreadsheet analysts.