Starting today, March 1, NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is charging a mandatory admission fee, replacing the “pay what you wish” model that’s been in effect since 1970.
The new fees do not apply to NYC or NY State residents, or students enrolled in schools in NY, NJ or Connecticut, who can continue to follow the suggested admission guidelines.
The new fees apply only to the millions of others, including US and foreign tourists, who walk through the gates paying little or nothing to experience one of the world’s top three art museums.
According to a recent report, less than 20% of visitors pay the full $25 admission price for adults, $17 for seniors and $12 for students, and many more walk in without paying anything.
The new mandatory fees are in line with such museums as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Louvre in Paris.
The new fees also apply to Met branches The Cloisters and Met Breuer. The good news is that under the new rules, you have three days, not just one, to visit all three with an admission ticket from any one of the three Met Museum locations.
Those who can provide proof of residence within New York City or New York state, or student IDs, can continue to follow the current suggested admission model.
Acceptable IDs include a New York State driver’s license, IDNYC cars, library card, or current bill that shows your NYC or NYState address.
The admission policy change has been in the works nearly a year, and approved recently by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.
The Met gets $26 million in funds from NYC each year, about half of which is just for utility costs. Yes, it costs about $11 million a year to keep the lights on.
Much of the rest of the money helps support other NYC arts & culture institutions in under-served communities in NYC.
New York Times aret critics questioned whether this is even enough of an increase to help stem the tide of red ink.
The new policy will impact 31 percent of the museum’s visitors, according to the Met.
About 41 percent pay no fees, as members of the museum, children under 12, or using the FREE admission bonus from IDNYC.
14 percent get discounted rates as part of the City Pass program;
30 percent are from the city, and the remaining are from within the state but outside the city.
What are your thoughts on this new mandatory museum admission policy? Add a comment below.
Long overdue. Every other art museum in New York charges a fixed fee (The MoMA, Whitney, Frick, Guggenheim), all 20 to 25. Met is far larger (and giving three days for full rate). Same is true for most European museums, with the exception of London. Locals and all students from the tri-state area will get in free. All other students half price. Movies cost more than that (so does Madame Taussaud’s).
Don’t like it? Don’t go–it’s not a public park.