Tourism is a major driver for the economies of several countries, for instance, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, The Bahamas, etc. People come to these countries for a vacation and also to learn about the country’s culture by visiting national monuments, art galleries, museums, etc. Thus the question arises, should the entry to art galleries and museums be free?
Art galleries and museums can serve as a source of income to the government or the organisation owning it. Also, these structures need regular maintenance to keep them up to date and without a fee, it can become difficult to arrange required money to maintain them. In addition to this, if the art gallery or museum becomes a success, the revenue emanating from it can not only be used to expand existing infrastructure but also build new such structures.
However, apart from tourists, the local public should also be taken into account. The local people may not be able to afford the entry fee, especially those of a developing country and thus may miss out on important information about their motherland. A youngster missing out, on such information may be found wanting during discussions on the culture of his homeland when he visits foreign countries for study or work. Moreover, with people tending to adopt foreign culture easily these days, it is critical that the home culture is infused in them to preserve the integrity and originality of a nation. All of these can be encouraged by making entry to museums and art galleries free to local people. Apart from this, for students, it becomes easy to relate to the characters and events in their history books when they see them portrayed in the gallery or museum. Schools can organise free trips as part of learning series to these places.
In conclusion, I strongly feel that the entry to museums and art galleries should be free as they are an important part of a country’s culture. The maintenance of these structures can be sponsored through individual donations or government support.
Tourism is a major driver for the economies of several
countries
,
for instance
, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, The Bahamas, etc.
People
come
to these
countries
for a vacation and
also
to learn about the
country’s
culture
by visiting national monuments,
art
galleries
,
museums
, etc.
Thus
the question arises, should the
entry
to
art
galleries
and
museums
be free?
Art
galleries
and
museums
can serve as a source of income to the
government
or the
organisation
owning it.
Also
, these structures need regular maintenance to
keep
them up to date and without a fee, it can become difficult to arrange required money to maintain them.
In addition
to this, if the
art
gallery
or
museum
becomes a success, the revenue emanating from it can not
only
be
used
to expand existing infrastructure
but
also
build new such structures.
However
, apart from tourists, the local public should
also
be taken
into account. The local
people
may not be able to afford the
entry
fee,
especially
those of a developing
country
and
thus
may miss out on
important
information about their motherland. A youngster missing out, on such information may
be found
wanting during discussions on the
culture
of his homeland when he visits foreign
countries
for study or work.
Moreover
, with
people
tending to adopt foreign
culture
easily
these days, it is critical that the home
culture
is infused
in them to preserve the integrity and originality of a nation. All of these can
be encouraged
by making
entry
to
museums
and
art
galleries
free to local
people
. Apart from this, for students, it becomes easy to relate to the characters and
events
in their history books when they
see
them portrayed in the
gallery
or
museum
. Schools can
organise
free trips as part of learning series to these places.
In conclusion
, I
strongly
feel that the
entry
to
museums
and
art
galleries
should be free as they are an
important
part of a
country’s
culture
. The maintenance of these structures can
be sponsored
through individual donations or
government
support.