For the first time in 50 years, The Metropolitan Museum of Art has changed it’s admission policy from a “suggested” fee of $25, to a mandatory fee.
The new policy will apply to tourists, or anyone who doesn’t have proof of New York State residency. However, if you are a resident of the state (or a student from New Jersey or Connecticut) you will still be allowed to “pay-as-you-wish” for entrance.
For those who will now have to purchase a full-price admissions ticket, with it you will be given access to all three of the Met’s locations for “three consecutive days.”
The reason behind the new admissions policy? According to the Met:
In recent years, the Museum has experienced a significant decline in revenue generated per visitor under the pay-as-you-wish policy. In 2004, 63 percent of visitors contributed the full suggested admission. Today, only 17 percent of adults pay the full amount: a 73 percent decline. The average per-person contribution has also fallen to $9.
The rule will be implemented beginning March 1.
Featured image source: By Carmelo Bayarcal (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons