New research shows that while the public values free admission to museums and galleries, free entry is not itself enough to ensure that people will visit.
A report from The Art Fund and the Work Foundation shows that free admission to galleries was important in making the public feel ownership of the nation’s art but other barriers prevented people from visiting galleries and museums. These included a lack of knowledge about the art on display and a feeling of intimidation about the buildings themselves.
Other key findings suggest that museums and galleries could increase their efforts to make art accessible, that the public should be encouraged to ask questions and interrogate decisions made on their behalf, though they were happy to leave decisions to experts.
The Art Fund survey comes after new government figures show visits to national museums and galleries, at 40.3 million, are at a record high for the third year running. Since free admission was introduced, visits to previously charging museums have more than doubled.