Fees for admission and for special exhibitions are part of what make membership attractive to museum-goers - in some cases, a high special exhibition price is part of a strategy to attract new members.  Membership not only provides free admission to both regular and special exhibitions, in most cases, but often allows the member the option of purchasing tickets for guests at a discounted rate.  

When facing a potential $64 tab, that $50 membership looks pretty good - and gives free admission for a year, as well as mailings about exhibitions and events, discounts in the shop and cafe, and at higher membership levels, often free admission to other museums around the country through the reciprocal membership program.  

While a few museum have successfully eliminated admission and maintained a membership base, notably in Minneapolis, it's tricky!  I'd love to hear from any museums that have done away with admission regarding the impact on membership.


Cecilia Meisner
Director of Grants & Special Projects
The Baltimore Museum of Art
10 Art Museum Drive
Baltimore, Maryland  21218

410/396-6794 voice
410/396-7153 facsimile
[log in to unmask]

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).