I think a suggested donation is fine so long as it is TRULY suggested.
However, when the visitor must go through the same process as for normal
admission, ie. come face-to-face with a "ticket person" of some sort, or
being required to get a badge to wear around the "free" museum, then the
visitor feels compelled to pay and there is really no difference in access.
Those visitors who cannot afford to pay will not want to be faced with the
dilemma of having to admit they cannot afford the "suggested donation" and
will not want to come in.  This completely defeats the purpose of
eliminating the fee.  Donation boxes placed strategically around exits are
much less intimidating and people are allowed to put in what they can truly
afford.

Cori Wegener



>From: Janice Klein <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Eliminating admissions fees
>Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 09:37:39 -0500
>
>The Mitchell Museum switched from admission to suggested donation when we
>re-opened last fall (for a variety of tax reasons, both city and county).
>Most people follow our suggestions ($5 adults, $2.50 children, seniors and
>students, and a $10 family maximum), but we will (as cheerfully as
>possible)
>accept less or nothing if that's what the visitor can afford or wants to
>give.   Sometimes we will suggest that visitors make their donation on the
>way out, allowing them to place their own value on the visit.
>
>janice
>
>Janice Klein
>Director
>Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Kendall College
>[log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Elana Hornstein <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Thursday, October 19, 2000 7:35 PM
>Subject: Eliminating admissions fees
>
>
> >I am new to the Museum-L listserve, so please forgive me if this issue
>was
> >discussed previously:
> >
> >Our Museum is considering eliminating our admissions fees. Currently, we
> >charge $7.00 for general admission and $4.00 for discounted admissions.
>Some
> >argue that this could be a barrier for some visitors and may be limiting
>our
> >potential visiting audience.  I am currently conducting an evaluation to
> >determine if this is the case.  As part of my evaluation, I would like to
> >look at a few case studies of other museums that previously charged an
> >admissions fee, and then either reduced it or eliminated it completely.
>Can
> >anyone refer me to Museums that have done this?
> >
> >Your help is greatly appreciated.
> >
> >-----------------------------
> >Elana K. Hornstein
> >Visitor Services Manager
> >Education Department
> >San Jose Museum of Art
> >[log in to unmask]
> >(408) 521- 4001
> >
> >=========================================================
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