I have often wondered how long "admission free" art museums will be able to
stay that way.  Being owned and operated entirely by government has
advantages and disadvantages.  The tradition of free admission to government
or university museums seems limited to those exhibiting art; history museums
and others owned by government must often charge what the market will bear.

With admission-free museums around the corner, it must be difficult for the
non-profit ones to finance alternative approaches to exhibiting, education,
etc.

In this day and age, perhaps 75 years after Virginia established the first
state art museum - with an as yet unchanged policy of free admission -
aren't governments questioning this kind of investment?  Sen. Helms and
Mayor Rudy certainly put in their two cents!

Ross Weeks Jr.
Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park
Tazewell, Va.
http://histcrab.netscope.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie Moore" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: Admission fees for special exhibits


> I tried to go to the Portland Art Museum when I was there in March.  Yes,
> although there was no additional fee for the special French decorative
arts
> exhibition that was there at the time, I nevertheless thought $10 was a
> somewhat exorbitant admission fee considering that it's also $10 at much
> larger museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago.
>
> The Indianapolis Museum of Art (11th largest in the US) is admission-free
> all the time, and about once every couple of years they have a
"blockbuster"
> exhibition that requires a separate admission fee.  You can still go
through
> the rest of the museum if you don't want to spend the $ for the special
> exhibition.
>
> Julia Muney Moore
> Director of Exhibitions and Artist Services
> Indianapolis Art Center
> 820 E. 67th St.
> Indianapolis, IN  46220
> (317) 255-2464 x233
> FAX (317) 254-0486
> email <[log in to unmask]>
>
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