Overview
- The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport confirmed on Monday that England’s 15 national museums will continue to offer free admission to all visitors, ending a months-long review of overseas charges.
- DCMS argued that charging international visitors risked reducing local attendance and would hit institutions unevenly, which was the main reason ministers rejected introducing tourist entry fees.
- The government pointed to specific financial support to bolster museums, including the £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund with £760 million for museums, £600 million in infrastructure funding, and a £13.6 million museum transformation programme.
- As an alternate revenue route, ministers have given regional mayors the power to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy and ministers said they will work with the Arts Council and the sector on a long-term plan and sustainability measures.
- Free admission began in December 2001, the policy will mark 25 years this year, and national museums together generate more than £1 billion a year and attract millions of visits, figures ministers used to stress the public and economic value at stake.