Dear Star,

As I said in my previous, there are major differences in cultural values
and traditions, and what works in one country may not work in
another.  However, I do know that when I became a member of the museum
profession almost 40 years ago now many senior staff wanted only "those
who are really interested" in their museums or galleries, and wanted to
erect (or perhaps more accurately maintain) at the very least
psychological barriers if not financial ones against mass audiences.

However, despite a 400% or more increase in museum and related visiting
since then, the museum world has not suffered any of the disorder,
vandalism or whatever that was feared.  Indeed, the current Government's
view is the exact opposite, that museums and other cultural facilities and
organisations are still not "inclusive" enough. Consequently, many of
their policies towards the sector are focused explicitly on widening
participation even further as part of the campaign against "social
exclusion".  These policies include special support for expanding museum
education and Internet access, the free admission to national museums
policy, while they are setting fairly  explicit targets calling on all
government-supported cultural institutions to broaden considerably their
audience and visitor profiles, with special emphasis on increasing
participation among disadvantaged groups, including the poor, minorities
and the disabled.


Patrick Boylan


=====================================

On Thu, 2 May 2002, Star Meyer wrote:

> Free museum admission is not always a boon, at least in Italy. An
> experienced museum professional who directs a free admission public museum
> here has expressed to me that it makes the visitors greatly undervalue what
> they are seeing ('if I can get it for free, it must not be worth much'). The
> same problem effects the available didactic material. He wants to institute
> even a minimal charge in order to eliminate this psychological block. If
> this problem were to be found pervasive in Italy, it probably would be
> better here to institute at least a minimal entrance fee, and to have
> occasional free days, than to always offer entrance free of charges.
>
> all the best,
>
> Star Meyer
> [log in to unmask]
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