With the increasing popularity of museums and art galleries, whether they should be free of charge or not has drawn much discussion amongst the general public. Whilst many advocate that people should be charged to enter these places, others argue otherwise. Personally, I am inclined to the view that the merits of charging for entry outweigh the drawbacks.
One of the cogent reasons for charging fees is that the building and the maintenance costs of any major museums and art galleries are tremendous. Undoubtedly, by charging a reasonable entry fee, it can help cover the cost incurred from day-to-day activities such as utility bills, repairing costs, renovation, and staff costs. Additionally, the entrance fees allow these places to expand quicker and they can buy in more exhibits to attract more people. Consequently, charging an admission fee seems very utilitarian to creating better museums and galleries.
However, the major drawback to charging admission fees is that it may reduce the number of visitors. This is particularly disadvantageous if poor members of society are unable to afford to visit these places. It seems a great pity if children and economically disadvantaged people are unable to benefit from the cultural experiences these venues provide.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that the benefits of an entry fee to museums and art galleries, in terms of funding maintenance and expansion prevail over the downsides. However, it is recommended that they can provide concessions to special groups such as students, disabled people and so on. Only by doing so can we ensure that people are still willing to pay a visit