APPENDIX 15
Memorandum submitted by Norfolk Museums
and Archaeology Service
IMPACT OF FREE ENTRY AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUMS
I understand that you would welcome submissions
from the wider museum sector on the impact of the introduction
of free access to the national museums.
May I firstly say that I welcome any move which
removes barriers to access. I am only disappointed that the government
has not extended this subsidy to regional museums. The Norfolk
Museums and Archaeology Service operates 12 museums in Norfolk.
We are obliged to charge in order to generate sufficient income
to maintain museums and collections, and to provide a range of
high-quality public services. The collections at Norwich Castle
are designated and we regularly win standards awards. We currently
have formal partnership agreements with the Tate and the British
Museum to develop exhibitions and share expertise.
The service has suffered indirectly as a result
of free access to the nationals. The publicity surrounding the
government's announcement of free access was sufficiently vague
for many people to assume that the government was funding free
access to all museums. When the NMAS museums did not remove charges
there was resulting criticism. The fact that national museums
are free affects the perception of value in the eyes of potential
visitors to NMAS museums. This is despite the fact that the nationals
often charge £6 or £8 for temporary exhibitions.
We are not located sufficiently near to a free
national museum for there to be direct competition. However, visitors
at Norwich Castle have dropped by 27 per cent in 2002. The attraction
of cheap train fares to London and a day out at the London museums
must provide some competition to our services.
I am pleased that free entry has encouraged
so many additional visits. However, it has created an even less
level playing field for the regional museums.
31 October 2002
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