London has free museums. Pretty much all of the big ones -- both Tates, the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum -- are free, free, free. They ask for a donation, sure, and I bet most people give something -- but talk about an amazing concept. FREE museums, which equates to free activity for citizens and tourists alike, to spending money they would have spent on entrance in the gift shops, and, most importantly, easy access to art and interactive education. As I have wandered around these brilliant places, I see tons of school groups and the occasional artist, practicing drawing or painting some artifact or sculpture.
Even the small places, like the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Park, are free. And when I was there, surrounded by this uber-feminist, anti-war art, there was a mother and daughter (she couldn't have been more than seven) sitting on the floor in the main gallery, paper in front of them and pastels next to them. Drawing. And coloring.
I have been wondering how England funds their museums, whether it's by private donation, tax, etc. I found this from the London Art Network:
"Presently, 7 pence in every £100 is contributed from the public purse to Arts and Heritage. This already seems a small price to pay, given the benefits both economic and culturally that the Arts and Heritage return. What is needed is not a specific settlement of a figure but an open debate on the value we place on culture and the arts and how we are prepared to pay for this. There will always be a need for public/private support for UK museums."
Sounds good to me.
1 comment:
sounds like youre having an awesome time!
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