H.E. Mr Christophe Farnaud, Ambassador to the Embassy of France in Pretoria and Mr Frank Marchetti, Cultural Counsellor, Head of Cooperation and Director of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) visited the Department of UP Arts on Monday 12 June 2017 to view the new museum galleries and vast array of ceramic collections. Members of the diplomatic core and other representatives from the French Institute were welcomed through the museum galleries, which included a special viewing of the Mapungubwe gold rhino as one of the highlights of the formal visit. His Excellency, Mr C. Farnaud remarked that, "to have access to the national treasures of Mapungubwe in those conditions is a privilege... congratulations to the whole team for the impressive quality of this world-class museum."