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Free museums: Visits more than double Free museums: Visits more than double
(about 1 hour later)
Government-sponsored museums that went free in 2001 have seen their combined visitor numbers more than double in the past decade, new figures suggest. Government-sponsored museums that scrapped entry charges in 2001 have seen their combined visitor numbers more than double since, figures show.
Seven million people visited the attractions in 2000-01 compared with almost 18 million in 2010-11. Almost 18 million people visited the attractions in 2010-11, compared with 7 million in 2000-01.
Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of the Labour government's decision to scrap charges at national museums. Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of the Labour government's decision to end charges at England's national museums.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said free museums and galleries "ensure that culture is for everyone".Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said free museums and galleries "ensure that culture is for everyone".
Entrance fees to museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum, both in London, were scrapped on 1 December 2001 as part of a government plan to widen access to the nation's culture and heritage.Entrance fees to museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum, both in London, were scrapped on 1 December 2001 as part of a government plan to widen access to the nation's culture and heritage.
'New era''New era'
The then Labour Culture Secretary Chris Smith said the move marked "an exciting new beginning for the arts and cultural life of this country".The then Labour Culture Secretary Chris Smith said the move marked "an exciting new beginning for the arts and cultural life of this country".
New figures from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) suggest that eight of the top 10 UK visitor attractions are free government-sponsored national museums. Figures from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) suggest that eight of the top 10 most-visited attractions in the UK are free, government-sponsored national museums.
The British Museum, National Gallery and Tate are among the museums that have always been free. The Tate Modern moved to free access from May 2000 and the Imperial War Museum North from July 2002. The British Museum, the National Gallery and the Tate are among museums that have never charged for entry. The Tate Modern moved to free access from May 2000 and the Imperial War Museum North from July 2002.
Museums that still charge an entrance fee include Tate St Ives, the Imperial War Museum's HMS Belfast, the Cabinet War Rooms and the Imperial War Museum Duxford.Museums that still charge an entrance fee include Tate St Ives, the Imperial War Museum's HMS Belfast, the Cabinet War Rooms and the Imperial War Museum Duxford.
The DCMS says free admission attracts huge numbers of international visitors. In comparison, it says, museum charges apply at the Museum of Modern Art in New York ($25; £21), the Louvre in Paris (€10; £8.50) and the Vatican Museum in Rome (€15; £12).The DCMS says free admission attracts huge numbers of international visitors. In comparison, it says, museum charges apply at the Museum of Modern Art in New York ($25; £21), the Louvre in Paris (€10; £8.50) and the Vatican Museum in Rome (€15; £12).
Mr Hunt said: "Our free museums and galleries ensure that culture is for everyone, not just the lucky few.Mr Hunt said: "Our free museums and galleries ensure that culture is for everyone, not just the lucky few.
"I am particularly proud that we have secured the future of free museums despite the current financial climate.""I am particularly proud that we have secured the future of free museums despite the current financial climate."
Writing in the Guardian, Chris Smith said he had been determined to change the rising tide of charging for entry to museums.Writing in the Guardian, Chris Smith said he had been determined to change the rising tide of charging for entry to museums.
"I believed passionately that these great treasure houses belonged to us all, and should be available for free, forever," he wrote."I believed passionately that these great treasure houses belonged to us all, and should be available for free, forever," he wrote.
'True benefit'
Michael Fayle, chairman of the British Association of Friends of Museums, an independent organisation that represents friends and volunteers across the UK, said the figures showed there was "true benefit" to the public in having free museums.
But he says museums often have to foot the bill for extra visitors. For example, longer opening hours mean there is a need for extra staff.
Many museums have cafes, while others ask for a minimum donation to support the attraction.
Mr Fayle believes this is justified.
"One of the comments I heard this morning was that if you make the wider availability as free as you can at a time when central government funding isn't available, there simply has to be an alternative way of making money," he said.
However, he said charging for "blockbuster" exhibitions was a "difficult equation".
Such exhibitions bring in large numbers of visitors but the high cost of running them - and the need to recoup that money through entrance fees - means some people miss out, said Mr Fayle. He added that many visitors might find the experience diminished because of overcrowding.
"One wonders whether [holding paid-for exhibitions] is in the spirit of the free access that everyone wants to achieve," he said.
'Posh art''Posh art'
The recently opened Museum of Liverpool is due to host the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on Thursday to open four new galleries. The recently opened Museum of Liverpool is due to host the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on Thursday, marking the opening of four new galleries.
The director of National Museums Liverpool, which runs seven venues including the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the World Gallery and the Walker Art Gallery, said free entry - and variety - was key to attracting a broad audience.The director of National Museums Liverpool, which runs seven venues including the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the World Gallery and the Walker Art Gallery, said free entry - and variety - was key to attracting a broad audience.
"A good example recently is to have Lily Savage's dresses alongside Matisse drawings. That's the kind of variety I think that a great museum tries to achieve. You don't just do one. You don't just do the other," said David Fleming."A good example recently is to have Lily Savage's dresses alongside Matisse drawings. That's the kind of variety I think that a great museum tries to achieve. You don't just do one. You don't just do the other," said David Fleming.
"Just putting on posh art exhibitions doesn't do it for most people. That tends to attract the same people time after time after time.""Just putting on posh art exhibitions doesn't do it for most people. That tends to attract the same people time after time after time."
Continued access to free museums is part of the coalition government's agreement and funding to secure this was put in place in last year's Spending Review.Continued access to free museums is part of the coalition government's agreement and funding to secure this was put in place in last year's Spending Review.