First of all, the use of the word "complaining" is quite strong. They are merely comments of people's opinions. I assume most people on this list are very well educated and it is insulting to take this issue this far. I love museums and I have a full understanding of what "non-profit" means. However, what needs to be addressed is that if you want to attract the public to museums, charging expensive prices will not bring them in. If you want to bring in scholarly, well to do individuals, then charge higher prices. All this will do is serve the purpose of alienating a large and important part of society. The general public doesn't expect to get in for free, in fact they expect to be admitted to a museum at a reasonable price. The pubic deserves to be rewarded when visiting a museum. I realize museums can't survive without a certain amount of profit, but let's be realistic. Museums would cease to exist without public support. What purpose would they serve without visitors? Visitors should leave satisfied and happy, and pass on that happiness to others who will then visit the museum. So, when someone comments about the high prices of extra admission to exhibits, it should be taken as information and not as a threat or judgment. Fiona Adams -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Lori Allen Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 11:56 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Defining "non-profit: was Re: Admission fees for special exhibits Bravo Diane and Audra! The term "not for profit" refers to the fact that profits or dividends are not paid to the board of directors, shareholders or owners, etc. Further, if an organization is able to generate a surplus, those funds are not taxed (providing they meet UBIT rules). In no way are non-profit organizations (NPO's) prevented from making a profit. In fact, just like a for-profit, they must have funds equal to or in excess of expenses to continue operating. In other words, NPO's don't operate in another dimension that is somehow exempt from economic law. What really bothers me about the comments is the fact the mention was made of the institution being non profit, as if the services rendered were less valuable due to the organization's tax status. Would the added admission be acceptable if the museum was operated as an amusement park? There you pay admission price plus concert ticket price, even if you don't plan on riding the rides or seeing the attractions. Why? Because you have access - same issue as museums. You have access to the regular collection, even if you say you are only visiting the special exhibit. Like much of the rest of life, this issue is access and availability. I think the issue is that the public has been conditioned to think that museums should be free: i.e.. that some "rich person" pays for it or the government or that "it is supported by my taxes so I don't have to pay again". The reality is that there is no such thing as a free ride. You want to view the collection, you have to pay for that privilege; you want to see the special show, that cost extra. The museum doesn't "owe" its visitors any more than what a for-profit business owes its customers: you get what you pay for. And blockbuster shows are a myth - they don't make big money. Complaining to a list full of people who deal with chronic fiscal shortages about having to pay to enjoy the fruits of their labor is not too smart. Frankly, I like my paycheck and if you have to pay extra to see the show of your choice to ensure that it continues, I am completely OK with that. I don't work for free and you don't get to play for free either. Lori Allen Graduate Student, History and Museum Studies University of Missouri - St. Louis "Well behaved women rarely make history." - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Historian -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Diane Gutenkauf Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 12:59 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Defining "non-profit: was Re: Admission fees for special exhibits First of all, charging a separate admission fee to offset the costs of bringing in a traveling exhibition is not only common, it is a reasonable way of raising revenue for a museum. (IMHO, of course) Welcome to the modern world. Second of all, let's define "Non-Profit." The term has no relationship to whether or not the institution can earn revenue in excess of expenses. It is specifically related to the federally defined tax status of the museum. Really. Any non-profit institution that does not attempt to raise more money than it spends is not only in danger of collapsing in on itself, it is acting in a fiscally irresponsible manner. Diane "Just call me Ms. Fiscal Responsibility" Gutenkauf >-----Original Message----- >From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On >Behalf Of Aikens, Jason >Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 9:05 AM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Admission fees for special exhibits > > >To All: > >Recently I visited a non-profit museum which was currently having a special >exhibit. I would not like to mention the specific name of the museum or the >exhibit. The museum had a regular admission price of around $8 and charged >an additional $8 to see their new special exhibit. The museum also required >that if anyone wanted to see the special exhibit, they must also pay for >regular admission to the museum. I was offended by the price gauging of >this institution. > >I was wondering if it anyone out there had any other similar experiences >like this at another non-profit museum. Is it common for museums to charge >additional fees to see special exhibits? I can understand a dollar or two >but nearly $8 seems quite high and requiring visitors to pay for regular >admission as well as special exhibit fees seems a bit much don't you think? >Isn't this a violation of federal non-profit standards? > >Jason Aikens ========================================================= 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] . 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