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The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

nytimes.com

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Re: The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

#11

Post by TylerE »

driscoll42 wrote: post #8
TylerE wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s insane. I can remember when you could get in a nice (non-Disney) theme park for $30/head.

To be a bit more fair to the Chicago Field Museum, the base ticket price is $30 for out-of-state adults, only more if you want access to one of the extra ticketed experiences, which are nice, but you can kill a full day on just the base ticket and have a great time. Ticket prices are also cheaper for Illinois and even cheaper for Chicago residents.

That makes sense. Here in NC I don’t really remember the state museums charging for base admissions, other than the zoos. You only had to pay for IMAX and things like that

Re: The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

#12

Post by Bayart »

boomboomsubban wrote: post #10

From Wikipedia, the Guggenheim can apparently show about 6% of it's collection at any one point. Seems like there's a fairly obvious way to generate more money there. But no, it's the union's fault they have money problems.

Every significant museum has vastly more in reserves than what can be shown. They're not art galleries, they also have a scientific and conservancy purpose.

Re: The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

#13

Post by klodolph »

boomboomsubban wrote: post #10

From Wikipedia, the Guggenheim can apparently show about 6% of it's collection at any one point. Seems like there's a fairly obvious way to generate more money there. But no, it's the union's fault they have money problems.

Are you suggesting that they reduce the percentage on display to more typical levels (2-4%)?

Re: The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

#15

Post by noodlesUK »

I’m not sure what the difference is between something like the Guggenheim in NYC or the Tate Modern in London, but you can walk into the Tate without having to pay anything at all.

Is there lots of government funding in the UK for the museum sector that doesn’t exist in the states?

Re: The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

#16

Post by viscountchocula »

wrp wrote: post #6

I remember the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry being an incredible place in the 1970s. I think it was in the 1990s I was there for some reason and it was pretty much gutted. Maybe the decline in American museums has been going on quite a while.

I love omsi! Have only lived here since 2017, though. What was so extra about it in the '70s that's lacking now (or at least was lacking in the '90s)?

Re: The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

#17

Post by LiquidSky »

the__alchemist wrote: post #14

I think this dependson the region; IIRC NYC museums have always charged a fee. They're still free in DC and NC.

You recall wrong. Public museums in NYC have always been pay-as-you-wish, but began charging non-New York residents a mandatory fee in 2018.

Re: The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

#18

Post by noodlesUK »

noodlesUK wrote: post #15

I’m not sure what the difference is between something like the Guggenheim in NYC or the Tate Modern in London, but you can walk into the Tate without having to pay anything at all. Is there lots of government funding in the UK for the museum sector that doesn’t exist in the states?

In response to my earlier comment, the answer is yes. The Tate is a non-departmental public body sponsored by DCMS (and it seems like other museums such as NHM in London have the same structure).

Re: The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

#19

Post by pastor_bob »

The focus of the major American Museum has become the same focus that, unfortunately, has overtaken a lot of other non-profits. It's not to show a collection. It's to make money.

And they dump a lot of resources in the marketing, fundraising and consultants, and blame 'wages' of the people who make 45k with, maybe, 2% yearly increases, when they jack up the prices.

Re: The entrance fee to America’s museums keeps rising

#20

Post by LiquidSky »

noodlesUK wrote: post #15

I’m not sure what the difference is between something like the Guggenheim in NYC or the Tate Modern in London, but you can walk into the Tate without having to pay anything at all. Is there lots of government funding in the UK for the museum sector that doesn’t exist in the states?

The Guggenheim is a private museum. Public museums in NYC are pay-as-you-wish, but began charging non-New York residents a mandatory fee in 2018.
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