A new study advocates for eliminating admission fees at U.S. museums, noting that the current costs deter visitors. The Remuseum's report reveals that free entry boosts attendance without increasing operating costs, stressing that museums should prioritize visitor access over financial profit. Museums are encouraged to consider their role as public institutions rather than businesses. The Wichita Art Museum exemplifies this success narrative, shifting to free admission and witnessing a resurgence in attendance, reclaiming pre-pandemic visitor levels.
Museums are not businesses. They're philanthropic institutions, providing a public good for people. The critical question is, what do museums want to subsidize?
The report argues that free admission drives greater attendance without raising costs to the museum, which should be a priority for museum funding.
Going free makes sense in Wichita.... Now the museum's galleries are free, and visitorship is back to pre-pandemic levels.
Many institutions offer discounts or free entry on specific days, but the overall entry cost remains a barrier to potential visitors.
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