Regarding "My small contribution there can't begin to
pay for them and their upkeep.":

Unfortunately, in California, arts funding has really hit a low point,
even for large institutions. Funding from the State is all but gone.
Those museums fortunate enough to receive City funding have to compete
with essential services like police, fire protection and health care.
In San Francisco, our city museums were asked again to cut their
budgets for this fiscal year. Many city museums, which the public
believes are paid from tax revenues, only receive a fraction of their
support in this manner (20-30%).

Let's not forget all the public programs supported by private
foundations and wealthy patrons. We are fortunate enough to receive
money from a private foundation to make our Museum free to the public
every Tuesday. As far as I know, San Francisco school children can
still visit their municipal museums free of charge. Which leads me to
admissions fees....

We are expected to generate 25-30% of our revenue from admissions fees.
Ours are about what you would expect to pay to see a movie. This is not
an inconsequential amount for a family. I am also old enough to
remember when some art museums were a free service, but I also remember
paying to get into museums, zoos and aquariums even back in the 60's.
These are not easy economic times and art museums are doing the best
they can to generate revenue without alienating visitors.

Stephen Lockwood
Senior Museum Registrar
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco


On Aug 10, 2004, at 2:13 PM, 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]
>
> =========================================================
> 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).
>

=========================================================
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).