York Art Gallery to charge adults £7.50 entry fee when it reopens
York Art Gallery will no longer be free when it reopens after a major renovation in August, it was revealed on Wednesday (April 15).
Adults will have to pay £7.50 admission to get into the gallery. The charge is being introduced by its owner, the York Museums Trust, to cover a loss of income from City of York Council, with more budget cuts expected after the General Election.
A new membership scheme will be established offering 12 month entry to all York Museums Trust sites as well as other benefits such as access to previews plus discounts at the sites’ cafes and shops. This will cost £22 per adult.
The Kids Go Free offer will remain, allowing free access for all children under 16 with one paying adult.
A statement by the trust said it had to become a “cultural business rather than a cultural service”.
It is only by becoming more of a cultural business rather than a cultural service that the Trust will continue to thrive and inspire visitors while remaining a key part of York’s cultural offer.
These changes are essential to ensure that the Trust remains economically viable and, in time, more self-sufficient.
Visitor numbers predicted to rise
York Art Gallery used to charge admission. Entry charges were abolished after the York Museums Trust took over the gallery in 2002.
Despite the introduction of the entrance fee, the trust expects visitor numbers to rise:
York Art Gallery visitor numbers
| Date | Visitors | Visitors per month |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2011-Apr 2012 | 226,404 | 18,867 |
| Aug 1, 2015- Mar 31, 2016* | 190,000 | 23,750 |
A spokesman for the trust said that the forecast was based “on the brand new product which we hope will entice people to come through the doors.
“It is looking incredible in there. We hope word of mouth, and the interest in seeing the new gallery, will help visitor number stay high.”
The trust is also hopeful that there will be a big take-up of the membership scheme.
Time of austerity in the arts
The trust points out in its statement that securing £8 million of investment, which will transform York Art Gallery “into one of the best regional galleries in the country”, is a “major achievement in a time of austerity in public funding across the country”.
But on the flip side, it has seen a reduction in funding after national government cut funding to councils, which in turn had to “make tough decisions on how best to spend their significantly decreased budgets”.
The trust says:
The uncertainty in arts funding is increased further by the imminent general election. Whatever the outcome, it seems highly likely that local authority budgets will be cut again and that national income streams for the arts could be reduced or reallocated elsewhere.
The investment and reopening
When it reopens on August 1, 2015, York Art Gallery will have 60 per cent more exhibition space and a new Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA).
With funding for new gardens at the rear of the gallery and the £1.7 million spent on the York Castle Museum’s First World War exhibition last year, that brings York Museums Trust investment to more than £10 million in two years.
New commissions, Old Masters and more than 2,000 ceramic works will feature in displays in the renovated gallery, which includes a new mezzanine area, it was revealed last month.
The new charges in full
York Museums Trust new charging policy in full is as follows:
York Art Gallery
An admission charge of £7.50 for adults will be introduced when it reopens on August 1.
YMT Card – 12 month pass for adults
York Museums Trust will be introducing the YMT Card offering free entry for 12 months into all of York Museums Trust sites.
The YMT Card will include other benefits such as access to previews plus discounts at the sites’ cafes and shops. It will cost £22 per adult and be available to buy from York Museums Trust sites and online.
This will replace the current 12 month ticket offers for the Yorkshire Museum and/or York Castle Museum as well as the current joint ticket offer. More details of the YMT Card will be released shortly.
Kids Go Free will continue across all York Museums Trust sites, allowing under 16s free entry with one paying adult (no organised groups).
Discounted tickets
A new Access Ticket will also be implemented across all York Museums Trust sites.
The new Access Ticket will offer up to 50 per cent off day tickets and the YMT Card to 17-24 year olds and those on Income Related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit or Income Support (evidence may be required).
What are the chances of a price reduction for O.A.P who enjoy art ??????
Like many others after moving back to the City I once loved.
I am again caught in the Tory trap.
The one that the Tories love most of all lets steal from the poor and give to the rich.
And shame shame and more shame on you York museum Trust
For going along with them now once again the poor in our society can no longer enjoy art, Why because the Tories once again give credence only to those who can afford it.
Which does not include me along with thousands of others in this city.
Shame too on York City Council for not having the balls to say no to the cuts after all you’ve wasted money elsewhere your forgetting one simple fact this is OUR MONEY not yours how dare you remove the rights of the citizens of this City to enjoy the art that was gathered there for them for free charge tourists by all means ART SHOULD BE FREE.
I hope to goodness your figures drop so you see the error of your ways.
But if they can turn the house of God into a theme park why not the art gallery, oh well one day the revolution will come spurred on by the love of art for all not just the privileged in our city
SHAME ON THE LOT OF YOU
Just been to a brilliant Terry Frost exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery and it was free. If they can do it why can’t York?
How elitist! Art should be accessible to all! I was going to become a friend of York art Gallery when it reopened. I loved visiting the gallery. Can’t afford to go in now!
They’re charging more to get in than they’re paying people per hour to show everyone around. I think it’s disgusting.
Just another aspect of the rapidly increasing inequality in Britain, ok for those that can afford it. Cultural aparthied, thats why the government devolve massively cut money to the council so they don’t take the blame.
If it does charge £7.50 I won’t be visiting again.
If it does charge £7.50 I won’t be visiting again.
Yorkshire Museum is still free with York Card but is changing to pay for all soon…get in while you can! ð©
So sad, but it’s not their fault. Central government cuts are hitting councils hard.
They can’t exist without funding, they have to raise the money somehow.
I never went when it was free anyway ha
Why couldn’t they just have a donation system – they would get just as much money and it would mean that those less well off could be covered as well – this will put off many that would normally use the gallery. It won’t work!
Crazy – not planning to stay open long then is it!
I looked forward to being a regular visitor , spending money in the gift and coffee shop. As a YorkCard holder I don’t currently pay for Castle or Yorkshire Museum entry but still spend in both shops and regularlly take out of town paying visitors there. I also pay for entry to Barley Hall and Jorvik. Disappointing.
All free in Edinburgh- but have the best coffee /gift shops and donations optional. Pop in several times a year- can’t see me doing the same in York.
I may pay once but that will be it!! I understand austerity but I think the charge will put off many people from visiting it.
All free in Edinburgh- but have the best coffee /gift shops and donations optional. Pop in several times a year- can’t see me doing the same in York.
I’d rather have kept the gallery free in its old state than have millions spent refurbing it for an entrance fee to be snuck in. It will put so many people off going, and crucially, probably the people who would benefit the most from it!!
I’d rather have kept the gallery free in its old state than have millions spent refurbing it for an entrance fee to be snuck in. It will put so many people off going, and crucially, probably the people who would benefit the most from it!!
It’s a shame but how many people complaining actually use it. People need to use these places or loose them
Game over.
Closure next on the bill
Big shame
Won’t be revisiting there then x
This is a big shame. I’ll be getting the annual pass but many others won’t. When I’m down in London I can visit the Tate and National Gallery for free (but not Westminster Abbey but that’s another story) 🙁
£7.50 is an extremely high price. Considering access to other galleries across the country (many are FREE in London with payment for special exhibitions). I understand that money has to be raised but this is likely to put off visitors. Without the pull of major pieces by well known artists people are unlikely to be drawn in with such a ridiculous amount to pay.
So close to London exhibition prices to see an average collection. Not exactly filled with Monets, Rembrandts, Picassos etc. London free, Birmingham free. Almost everywhere free. A nominal charge yes, but from zero to 7.50 ridiculous. I am a local artist looking forward to the reopen but will not bother now!
Shame 🙁
Ridiculous
So now poor people can’t go to the art gallery
While this is hugely disappointing, and it does seem to have been kept quiet until now, it is hardly surprising with the swingeing cuts to Local Government – tens of millions of pounds every year. The City of York Coucil has, in turn, hacked half-a-million pounds from the grant it makes to York Art Gallery. What are they to do? This is a direct consequence of the Government’s “austerity” policies.
The Conservatives have screwed local government funding since they came in and as a local museum they have little choice. It is a shame that we lose the privilege as local residents not to get free entry but the council subsidy which paid for it has been savaged and the money has to come from somewhere. Might have helped if the last administration of the council hadn’t wasted so much on badly managed projects (Lendal Bridge etc.)
Too expensive for mostly the tourists too. Art for the upper class, not for us. Let’s go to another place instead. Same to go to the Minster. Lot of my friends went out again cause of the prices. Maybe York do not want ordinary tourists…? The most of us…?
With some of the UK & world’s top museums and galleries only having FREE admission, this is definitely bound to be miles better !!! – Viz
not gonna happen
Won’t be going then
Christ – get the tories out.
I’d rather pay £7.50 to go in than not have the option of going in at all. It’s still a LOT cheaper than Castle Museum or a lot of the other attractions for tourists. It is a shame they have to charge, but considering I am in a position to support the arts, I’m happy to.
Um, what?
I’m not going either then
It its for an annual fee, I’m happy with that.
Ok I’ve read it now.. It’s a shame but £22 a year to cover all york museums is better than loosing one .
Mistake I’d have though, will put a lot of residents and visitors off. Something like £2-3 would produce income plus visitor numbers
The national museums may be free at the moment, but they still ask for donations. I don’t think that £22 for the annual pass is too bad, considering that if you visit the art gallery, Yorkshire Museum and Castle Museum once each it will have paid for itself, then the rest of the year they would be ‘free’.
Even York residents?
It won’t stay open long then will it
robbing sods waste of money that place
Oh great. The museums as well?
thats ridiculous.