After eleven years, the Dallas Museum of Art has decided Monday to once again remove admissions fees for all who wish to see the museum’s collection.
The move, which museum officials say is possible due to generous donations from corporations, foundations and private donors, is a part of the museum’s plan to become more open to the general public.
“We believe that the more people participate in what we’re doing, the better we can be as a museum,” said Dallas Museum of Art deputy director Rob Stein in an interview for CBS News, “and the more we can matter to the citizens of Dallas.”
However, the museum still needs revenue to stay afloat, and will maintain paid museum memberships in addition to charging individuals to see special exhibits that travel across the globe.
In addition to the free admission, the Dallas Museum of Art is starting a rewards program for frequent visitors. The program, called DMA Friends, contains numerous activities that can be completed by individuals and groups to earn badges.
Actual rewards for the program are not yet specified, however museum employees have ideas ranging from free parking to overnight stays at the museum.
AP Studio Art teacher Jeff Seidel is excited about free admission. Last week he, along with other AP Art teachers and AP/GT English Language teacher Kathryn Pabst is taking a group of students to the DMA as part of an AP Fine Arts grant.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Seidel said. “It takes the elitist feeling out of the museum and it lets everybody go in and enjoy priceless works of art.”
AP Art History teacher Amanda Beller also supports the new move, albeit with some hesitations.
“I did notice a lot more security guards, because I did see some homeless people,” Beller said. “I think it’s great that they get the opportunity to do that, but at the same time the DMA has to up their security.”
Beller also said while the free admission is surely beneficial to citizens of North Texas, it ultimately did not affect last week’s field trip.
“We would’ve gotten to go for free anyway because we had a docent tour,” Beller said.
