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Museums charging.

(33 Posts)
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Nandalot Sun 26-Jul-15 17:24:02

What do you feel about some museums and galleries proposing to charge as a result of cuts in government funding? I feel very sad.
Free entry gave equal opportunity to everyone. If you are on a very tight budget, museum entry is going to be low on your list of priorities.
Also if entry is free, it means you can just pop in with the grandchildren and leave before they get too tired or bored. If you have to pay, the temptation will be to stay to get your money's worth instead of leaving when they get bored or overwhelmed. This could be counter-productive and turn them off the whole thing.
According to 'The Independent', Poole museum found numbers dropped 75% when charges were introduced and that free entry was compensated for by sales in gift shop etc. Those who can afford it are probably more wiling to spend if they don't have to pay entry.
I just feel we need to encourage more visitors to museums and galleries rather than give an excuse for not doing so. What do you feel?

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rosesarered Mon 27-Jul-15 13:08:38

Janerowena, I see what you mean, country parks , as I thought you meant municipal ones.

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rosesarered Mon 27-Jul-15 13:09:52

Yes, if the car parks had loos, a cafe, and were surfaced, you wouldn't mind a small charge.

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rosesarered Mon 27-Jul-15 13:11:34

A good idea Suzied, as a lot of places now change your ticket into a free pass for a year, Blenheim Palace does that, and so is good value.

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granjura Mon 27-Jul-15 14:56:27

Agreed Suzied- great idea. Most countries do charge for Museums I'm afraid. I love it when I got to London to find they were mostly free in the UK, but I am not sure this is a luxury we can afford. In many countries, Museums are greatly reduced for local people and for schools, students (although not usually for OAPs we are always surprised to see). I am on the Board of 2 Museums here, and there is no way we could survive without charging.

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janerowena Tue 28-Jul-15 14:19:42

Even our little museum in Bury St. Ed. charges, but locals can get in free. We have a little card somewhere that arrives when we have paid our rates.

However I have sometimes paid to get into smaller provincial art galleries and felt like asking for my money back. grin

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granjura Tue 28-Jul-15 18:00:08

LOL- very proud that the 2 small and provincial Museums I am closely involved with are absolutely brilliantly put together- at great cost. So charging or not is NOT an option, although local people do get special events for free (one is on the History of the drink 'absinthe', and the other on artisanal watch making, originally by farmers (farm in Summer, watch-make in winter).

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geordiejoy Wed 29-Jul-15 11:43:59

My grandsons age 5yr and 10yr have been going to Norwich Castle museum since they were toddlers.We bought a family pass which gets us into any museum in Norfolk and is great for school hols and wet weekends.We renew the pass every year and save on entry feed.I must say the museums are always busy when we visit

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