Many museums charge for admission while others are free. Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
A significant number of Museums take an entrance fee while others have free access. Although the entry fee reduces the number of visitors, it generates funds for maintenance and increases the value of museums. Therefore, I think the merits outweigh the demerits.
To begin with, one of the advantages of paying for access to a gallery is that it provides money for keeping the arts in shape. The main aim of charging admission is to make resources available for taking care of infrastructures in the showroom to prolong their lifespan. Also, the money is used to maintain buildings and all other amenities to make the visitors comfortable. For example, the first museum in Nigeria, Esie museum, charges #1000 per head as an entrance fee, which is being used for the running and maintenance of the gallery because there is no other source of funds.
Furthermore, another merit is that it makes the art gallery to be more valuable. As it is popularly said, “what is not paid for is not appreciated” this applies to the case of admission charges to the museum. When people pay for its accessibility, they will appreciate what they see better than when free, thus, making more value to be placed on the showroom.
However, a disadvantage of charging entry into the museum is that it lowers the number of tourists. The number of visits will reduce, especially if the fee is not affordable. In addition, many people like free services. Therefore, they would instead go for a gallery that has free access than visit one that would cost them money.
In conclusion, some Art showrooms charge people before entering while others do not. Charging admission into galleries has both benefits and drawbacks. However, I think the advantages surpass the disadvantages. This is because the money gained from these charges is needed for the running of the gallery and to make people appreciate the arts better. Therefore, it is recommended that museums should charge a small amount of money for entry so that a large percentage of tourists would have access to them.
Follow Us on IELTSFever Twitter for more updates