The government’s austerity measures have had great impacts on all of our lives recently, and not long ago it was announced that the state no longer felt it could afford to invest in providing children with free swimming lessons. This has led some people to question whether the policy of providing the public with free access to museums and art galleries is economically viable. The entrance fees were scrapped in 2001, and the following decade saw visitor rates more than double, but current figures show that this is now costing the taxpayer an annual £350 million, which some would argue could be better spent elsewhere. With our local communities having the advantage of being just a short train ride from London, many families and groups of teenagers enjoy trips to the capital’s fantastic collection of galleries and museums at weekends and school holidays, and so would be significantly affected if free entry were to be phased out. I asked some local students for their opinions on the debate.
“No they’re one of the few forms of entertainment that are still free. Museums are also a place to educate people of all ages, and they have been kept accessible by being free to use.” – Nancy Sampoorna
“Museums may not charge entry fees but they still make money through donations and car parking fees etc, and they benefit the local economy through the multiplier effect.” – Catherine Spurin
“Museums are a vital part of our culture and society and if they weren’t free then not as many people would end up going. They provide a great day out for families, friends and school trips which allows active learning. Entry fees would deter visitors.” – Nikisha Mistry
“I think that the type of people who visit museums and art galleries would be willing to pay a reasonable amount to reduce the burden on the taxpayer.” – Mia Forbes
“Why should taxpayers pay for something they are not using and that is basically worthless to society? People go to school to learn, they don’t need to do it in their free time too.” – Josie Roberts
