Free Museum Entry ?

[Butts]

Is it just me or does every Free Museum seem to have notices and conspicuous collection boxes at strategic points throughout the premises asking for "voluntary" donations - even recommending an amount ?

This strikes me as a bit annoying - either they should charge or remove these "blackmail repositories"

Every Museum I visited in Manchester, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale had them in abundance.

 

[muz379]

Personally they dont bother me . If I attend a free museum and I had a reasonably enjoyable time I will usually put a few pounds in the collection box because I have the means and disposable income to pay for this kind of thing .

I do however respect that some people will not have the means to pay for museums but passionately believe they should still be free for people to access especially parents taking children .

 

[Butts]

Personally they dont bother me . If I attend a free museum and I had a reasonably enjoyable time I will usually put a few pounds in the collection box because I have the means and disposable income to pay for this kind of thing .

I do however respect that some people will not have the means to pay for museums but passionately believe they should still be free for people to access especially parents taking children .

Perhaps they should charge foreigners , as most Museums abroad are chargeable

 

[Mojo]

Who pays for most "free" museums; do they rely solely on donations and sales in the gift shop, or are some paid for with public funds?

Whenever I go abroad the overwhelming majority of museums charge a fee, which is often heavily reduced or waived completely for locals. Are we suckers in the UK for allowing all and sundry free admission? I know some local authorities have such schemes for fee-charging attractions (e.g. the Discovery Card for residents of Banes).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Whenever I go abroad the overwhelming majority of museums charge a fee, which is often heavily reduced or waived completely for locals. Are we suckers in the UK for allowing all and sundry free admission? I know some local authorities have such schemes for fee-charging attractions (e.g. the Discovery Card for residents of Banes).

I am aware that BANES is the acronym for the authority that administers Bath and North East Somerset and wonder for how long that authority had made admission charges the norm. Admittedly, there are some places of note within their administered area.

 

[Butts]

Who pays for most "free" museums; do they rely solely on donations and sales in the gift shop, or are some paid for with public funds?

Whenever I go abroad the overwhelming majority of museums charge a fee, which is often heavily reduced or waived completely for locals. Are we suckers in the UK for allowing all and sundry free admission? I know some local authorities have such schemes for fee-charging attractions (e.g. the Discovery Card for residents of Banes).

Labour removed charges for "National Museums" so I assume they are funded centrally.

Other Areas seem to vary - York is a bad place for freebie establishments, but as I mentioned Manchester was a "freeloaders paradise"

 

[tony_mac]

Who pays for most "free" museums; do they rely solely on donations and sales in the gift shop, or are some paid for with public funds?

http://www.museumsassociation.org/about/frequently-asked-questions
National Museums are funded from public funds.
Other museums may be partly public funded, such as by local authorities (and National Lottery).

Whenever I go abroad the overwhelming majority of museums charge a fee, which is often heavily reduced or waived completely for locals.

While I agree that most charge, I haven't seen many that are also free to locals.
Smithsonian Museums, for example, are free to everyone.

I think that free access to art and museums is a mark of a civilised society
And, of course, it encourages tourism (sometimes too much, but that's another topic....).
I have no problem with a box asking for donations, why not pay something if you can afford it? I do object to having to pass a 'toll booth' with a person collecting money, but I haven't seen those in museums.

 

[Springs Branch]

A couple of years ago, my wife & I visited the Lowry Gallery at Salford Quays. Entry is free, but as you arrived at the gallery you had to visit a ticket desk which had a prominent notice giving a "suggested" contribution (may have been £5 IIRC). The desk attendant asked how many visitors & handed over the appropriate number of entry tickets, which were elaborately printed like a pricey concert ticket, possibly even with a metallic security strip.

The whole impression given to arriving visitors was that there was an entry fee, although of course nothing stated you had to pay.

I was wise to this trick from researching the Lowry online prior to going (a reviewer had commented unfavourably on the mild deception), and the desk attendant seemed a bit surprised when I just took the tickets, said "thanks, pal" and walked in without paying.

We both enjoyed our visit, so much so that on the way out I dropped money in the box to the value suggested.
I certainly don't mind a request for a voluntary donation at my discretion, but I didn't like the strategy of implying to mug punters that there was an entry fee when there wasn't.

Looking at the Lowry website today, they make it perfectly clear that entry is free, and maybe they now make this a bit clearer at the entry point, I don't know.

Are there any other free museums that do this? What's the situation at the NRM in York?

 

[Aldaniti]

That is how they treat visitors to the NRM at York. Whenever I am in York I always used to make a quick visit and more often than not, buy something from the shop. However, because of this same way that they treat visitors on arrival, I no longer bother.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That is how they treat visitors to the NRM at York. Whenever I am in York I always used to make a quick visit and more often than not, buy something from the shop. However, because of this same way that they treat visitors on arrival, I no longer bother.

I noticed that subtle change there that affected those entering the NRM the last time that we paid a visit there.

 

[Greenback]

The collection boxes don't bother me. I still have the choice of whether to make a donation or not. I don't feel blackmailed by their presence. Similarly, I don't feel obliged to add a tip in restaurants, just because there is space on the bill for one.

 

[ExRes]

Seems to me that there is little or no point in claiming 'free entry' to any museum as only mugs will believe it to be free

Any institution that is 'free', unless funded by a philanthropic organisation or individual, is being paid for by Government funding, in other words being funded by the tax payer, you and me, so where does anyone think the 'free' come in ?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Seems to me that there is little or no point in claiming 'free entry' to any museum as only mugs will believe it to be free

Any institution that is 'free', unless funded by a philanthropic organisation or individual, is being paid for by Government funding, in other words being funded by the tax payer, you and me, so where does anyone think the 'free' come in ?

I think that when understanding the meaning of the matter of "free" admission as mentioned in your quote, you must look at the matter of actual physical payment of currency for entry fees against the lesser viewed/understood ethereal matter of "tax payers" contributions. How do you evaluate admission fees paid by those not subject to tax payments?

 

[John Webb]

As a trustee of a non-national museum (St Albans South signal box) that offers free entry, the situation is complex, and depends upon the trustees' perception of the role of the museum. We ask for donations, and have collecting boxes in several locations. We are particularly concerned that children should get in easily - we need them to learn about the museum so that hopefully some of them will keep it going when we're no longer around. All we have to do is satisfy ourselves and the Charity Commissioners we're doing the right thing.

But local authority (LA) funded museums are, at the moment, having a hard time of it. They are under considerable pressure financially, which is the main preoccupation of LAs at the moment. The result has been the closure of museums - for example the 'Silk Mill' museum in Derby was closed as a temporary measure in 2011. The building still stands, the collections (including the Roy Burrows Midland Railway collection) are still there, but you have to ask to see the collections, as the museum remains closed as it seems they cannot afford to reopen it.

It's not surprising, therefore, that many museums are seeking donations in a very prominent way - they don't want to have to shut their doors either!

 

[Butts]

A couple of years ago, my wife & I visited the Lowry Gallery at Salford Quays. Entry is free, but as you arrived at the gallery you had to visit a ticket desk which had a prominent notice giving a "suggested" contribution (may have been £5 IIRC). The desk attendant asked how many visitors & handed over the appropriate number of entry tickets, which were elaborately printed like a pricey concert ticket, possibly even with a metallic security strip.

The whole impression given to arriving visitors was that there was an entry fee, although of course nothing stated you had to pay.

I was wise to this trick from researching the Lowry online prior to going (a reviewer had commented unfavourably on the mild deception), and the desk attendant seemed a bit surprised when I just took the tickets, said "thanks, pal" and walked in without paying.

We both enjoyed our visit, so much so that on the way out I dropped money in the box to the value suggested.
I certainly don't mind a request for a voluntary donation at my discretion, but I didn't like the strategy of implying to mug punters that there was an entry fee when there wasn't.

Looking at the Lowry website today, they make it perfectly clear that entry is free, and maybe they now make this a bit clearer at the entry point, I don't know.

Are there any other free museums that do this? What's the situation at the NRM in York?

Yes, The Lowry is one of the worst set up's with regard to this and is exactly as you describe, with a ticket for entry issued.

The Imperial War Museum (North) nearby just has the begging boxes as did The Peoples History Museum and the MOSI in Manchester. Same with The National Football Museum and Manchester Art Gallery. Also the Museums in Oldham, Bury and Rochdale had begging boxes.

 

[Clip]

Other Areas seem to vary - York is a bad place for freebie establishments, but as I mentioned Manchester was a "freeloaders paradise"

Tee Hee oh the irony from you of all people Butts

But theyre fine - if donations keep a little bit of money back in the public purse or help them put on extra events then Im happy to stuff a fiver in one

 

[Mvann]

At the abbey pumping station in Leicester, admission is free except at certain events, the takings go towards the extra cost of staffing and the gas bill to steam the engines. All donations collected on site go either to the Leicester museums trust, which is given back to the museums of Leicester for acquiring new exhibits among other things, or to the Lmta, the volunteer group, which is then spent on items at the abbey pumping station. Examples of Lmta expenditure includes the work on getting the electric mini and a Dennis fire engine working and the overhaul of the bagnall steam locomotive on loan from Birmingham science museum.

 

[Puffing Devil]

Many museums that normally have a charge offer a free session once a week or month to allow those who could not afford admission the opportunity to visit. I think this approach with free entry for under 16s and reduced fees for students would be a reasonable way forward.

 

[Camden]

Is it just me or does every Free Museum seem to have notices and conspicuous collection boxes at strategic points throughout the premises asking for "voluntary" donations - even recommending an amount ?

This strikes me as a bit annoying - either they should charge or remove these "blackmail repositories"

Every Museum I visited in Manchester, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale had them in abundance.

When done well, museums able to get income from elsewhere reduces their reliance on state handouts and are more sustainable for the future.

There are some venues that I think get it wrong, where they are essentially outright asking you for money in a way that you might feel awkward if you don't "donate", but simply having suggested donation boxes at the entrance and exits is perfectly acceptable.

As far as I am concerned, if you go and enjoy what you have seen and can afford to pay you should do. If someone can't afford to pay then they should still be able to see what's on show and not feel awkward about it. The current way is the only reasonable way of making that happen.

If it's just donation boxes then they absolutely are voluntary, including the amount you put in. What was it that made you feel it wasn't voluntary?

 

[Aldaniti]

I think there's a general consensus that state-funding of museums can be a good thing in the right circumstances and we're all happy for those museums to top-up with donation boxes. What many people dislike is the 'suggested donation', particularly when it's done in such an awful way like the National Railway Museum where you're forced to queue until someone can look you in the eye and ask for the money. It's a bit like those adverts that come on TV, just nineteen pounds will buy..... just three pounds a month..... (accompanied by suitable depressing music). I wouldn't give them a penny to be honest, however good the cause. In December, my small company wrote a four figure cheque for a local children's hospital to help them buy Christmas toys and presents for the kids. We'd had a reasonably good year and I believe that companies should also play a positive role in the local community. Personally, I wrote a cheque out for a three figure sum to help a local animal charity at Christmas. Neither charity has ever asked me for money, nor do they 'suggest' donation amounts. It's really not the money, it's the way in which these organisations try to go about extracting it. The NRM is a terrific museum but I swear I will not cross its threshold unless and until they change their policy.

 

[Greenback]

I agree that it's the way it's done. I don't like to feel bullied, which is how I felt at a cathedral once, where a very bossy woman was calling out to everyone who passed the collection box that they should make a donation of 5 euro. That's a sure fire way of me not making a donation at all, whereas if there was no bullying I might have given more!

But, like I said, is most places a prominently placed box will be sufficient for me to make up my own mind on the day according to how I feel about the museum or attraction.

 

[Tom B]

Centrally funded museums have suffered large cuts to their budgets as part of the government cutbacks and so are now trying to source money from elsewhere. They can't charge, but can ask people to donate - whilst people may not like the idea of going past an attendant at a point, it increases donations by a large amount. Money is also often made from hiring out the premises in the evenings to corporate clients.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I agree that it's the way it's done. I don't like to feel bullied, which is how I felt at a cathedral once, where a very bossy woman was calling out to everyone who passed the collection box that they should make a donation of 5 euro. That's a sure fire way of me not making a donation at all, whereas if there was no bullying I might have given more!

My good lady wife and I (both well over 65) often visit York Minster and on payment of the "Concessionary" admission charge and the agreement to Gift-Aid the monies paid (we are both tax-payers), we can then visit the Minster as many times as we like free of charge for the next 364 days.

Not all cathedrals make an official entrance charge as we have also been to Durham cathedral many times, where admission charges as such do not apply.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

They don't bother me personally, simply another means of income. Personally I don't put any in unless I enjoyed the museum where then I would put in a few coins.

 

[Butts]

Tee Hee oh the irony from you of all people Butts

But theyre fine - if donations keep a little bit of money back in the public purse or help them put on extra events then Im happy to stuff a fiver in one

Ho Ho.... I was referring to myself with regard to "freeloaders paradise"

 

[Busaholic]

I agree that it's the way it's done. I don't like to feel bullied, which is how I felt at a cathedral once, where a very bossy woman was calling out to everyone who passed the collection box that they should make a donation of 5 euro. That's a sure fire way of me not making a donation at all, whereas if there was no bullying I might have given more!

But, like I said, is most places a prominently placed box will be sufficient for me to make up my own mind on the day according to how I feel about the museum or attraction.

When Network South East was formed, holders of the new Network Card were allowed one free return trip on a particular Saturday. As I'd never been to Salisbury, and it was the furthest point I could travel to from my London home, that was where I went. Unfortunately, the day coincided with torrential rain, but I was determined to visit the cathedral. Having traipsed there from the station and got thoroughly soaked, I saw the queue for admission, the reason being the charge administered. There was no mention of any exceptions, not even for 'prayer' unlike some, and both on principle and because I was skint and reserving my money for a snack and a drink, I turned tail. Never been back to Salisbury and unlikely to either.

St Paul's Cathedral is my favourite building bar none, but I won't go inside it again unless they withdraw admission charges. Apart from anything else, the Church of England's property arm is stinking rich.

 

[theblackwatch]

Centrally funded museums have suffered large cuts to their budgets as part of the government cutbacks and so are now trying to source money from elsewhere. They can't charge, but can ask people to donate - whilst people may not like the idea of going past an attendant at a point, it increases donations by a large amount. Money is also often made from hiring out the premises in the evenings to corporate clients.

National museum funding was reduced by 15% in 2010 and there have been further reductions every year since. Prospect has produced a leaflet explaining the impact on various organisations, which can be downloaded from https://library.prospect.org.uk//download/2014/00847 - it's not just a union document which goes on about job cuts and lack of pay rises, it also highlights some of the difficulties that all the museums are now facing. For example, the Science Museum Group (of which the NRM and MOSI, both of which have already been mentioned in this thread, are part of) has had its grant in aid cut by around 30%. It mentions the closure of the Science Museum Library,and there are other things not mentioned that have had to be done to balance the books - at the NRM, it now closes at 17.00 rather than 18.00, and the 'Search Engine' (its archive centre) is now open on only 4 days a week.

It's hardly surprising that, with such drastic cuts, museums are relying more on the 'begging bowl' to try and fund their activities.

 

[pne]

(About Salisbury Cathedral

Having traipsed there from the station and got thoroughly soaked, I saw the queue for admission, the reason being the charge administered. There was no mention of any exceptions, not even for 'prayer' unlike some

As best I can recall, Salisbury Cathedral was on a "suggested donation" scheme when I visited there in April 2014.

So give it another try perhaps

 

[tony_mac]

As best I can recall, Salisbury Cathedral was on a "suggested donation" scheme when I visited there in April 2014.

It's been over a decade since I was at Salisbury, it was a suggested donation, but they had a manned booth that you had to pass in order to gain entry.

St Paul's has free organ recitals on Sundays, but you don't exactly get a chance to wander around the building.

I haven't been to the NRM for a while, and I don't remember the Manchester museums being so bad - maybe I am more thick-skinned than I thought!

 

[pne]

It's been over a decade since I was at Salisbury, it was a suggested donation, but they had a manned booth that you had to pass in order to gain entry.

That's true, but it did seem to be pretty straightforward to just walk around the booth if you were so inclined.