Do London’s national museums and galleries charge too much for temporary exhibitions? - Museums Association

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Do London’s national museums and galleries charge too much for temporary exhibitions?

Vote in the poll and have your say
London’s national museums and galleries have established a reputation for show-stopping exhibitions. But the impact of these blockbusters isn’t merely cultural: they can also make a significant dent in visitors’ bank balances.

Entry to the British Museum’s current Celts exhibition will set you back £16.50, as will the forthcoming Sunken Cities. And the current Alexander Calder exhibition at Tate Modern costs £18 (£16.40 if you opt out of the voluntary donation).

The museums and galleries may argue that such prices are necessary to help cover their operating costs and continue allowing free entry to permanent exhibitions. But others ask whether steep charges are counterproductive.

Charles Saatchi, who allows free entry to the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, has argued that admission charges only account for a small proportion of institutions’ income and called high entry prices “irritating” and “perplexing”.

Are entry prices for London’s temporary exhibitions too high? Have your say by taking part in the poll below.


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