Geographic/economic factors also come into play.  El Paso is one of the poorer
urban areas in the country, and when the city put a $1 entrance fee for the
previously free fine arts museum (which is a good one), attendance fell so
steeply that the fee was soon recinded.

Art Harris

Indigo Nights wrote:

> This concept that, if you don't charge, people won't
> come, troubles me.
>
> I learned to love museums when I was a kid because my
> noncustodial father took me there as a cheap/free form
> of recreation when I was young.  He didn't have the
> money to shell out, and I was very happy with what I
> learned/saw/felt for free.
>
> I turned around and took my two to many museums when
> my ex provided no child support and money was tight.
> It was a good way to educate them, it was a good way
> to teach them, and on hot days, it was a great way to
> stay cool.
>
> Now, I take the two grandkids to museums frequently
> when they spend one day each weekend with Grandma.  We
> don't go every week, but we go several times a year.
>
> Where did I take my children and now my grandchildren?
>  In many instances to the exact same museums my father
> took me.  They instilled a form of loyalty.  I can pay
> (and will) to a point, but if I'm taking more than one
> and myself, paying for gas, parking, and food before
> and after, it becomes an expensive day.
>
> I think, if you hold the line on cost where possible,
> you're apt to get a lot more visitors than if you
> attach some artificial figure as if to connote worth.
>
> The Norton Simon has some of the most beautiful
> artworks.  My small contribution there can't begin to
> pay for them and their upkeep.  But they are very
> valuable to me because both of the grandchildren have
> learned to love artwork by being able to attend when
> we were looking for a way to entertain ourselves.
> Where else can you tell the kids to keep their hands
> in their pockets and actually get them to do it (lest
> "the security man" will get them!--hey, whatever it
> takes to keep them in line, right?).
>
>
>
> =====
> Indigo Nights
> [log in to unmask]
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--
Laboratory for Environmental Biology, Centennial Museum
University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX  79968-0915
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