Many museums charge for admission while others are free. Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?

Lots of museums charge a fee

while

others do not.

This

essay thinks that the benefits of charging do not outweigh the drawbacks because open access to relics and art is more important than generating cash that the government should supply in any event. The main disadvantage is that high fees exclude a large proportion of the population, especially in less developed countries. Many people in poorer countries have just enough money for food and shelter. Exhibits are one of the few cultural activities they can enjoy free of charge.

For example

, Egypt has millions of people living in poverty, but

also

a rich and ancient culture and it is

therefore

important that everyone gets to experience these artefacts. Another big negative is that students and children who are learning about the world may not be able to visit. It would be a huge shame if art students could not see their favourite painters or sculptors’ work in real life because their finances could not cover the cost. Despite

this

, there are some who say that museums are unsustainable without the money they might get from ticket sales. They say that

this

allows the building to remain open and it is better that some people get to experience it, rather than none at all. To

this

, I would say that the government should step in and cover the cost because culture is as important as anything else it spends money on.

For instance

, in the UK there have been huge government spending cuts over the

last

few years, but the museums have not had their funding reduced because of their importance to the country’s cultural heritage. In conclusion,

although

some might say that places of culture should be run like a business, the cost to the education and heritage of the country is too great and they should remain free to all.