Museums See an Increase In Attendance

Andrew Goldstein writing for the Art Newspaper has an interesting article on museum attendance. The article states that interest in the arts is strong based upon the increased numbers of visitors to museums as documented by an Art Newspaper survey. As we are aware, many museums are suffering financially due to fewer large benefactors and a loss of donations, yet visitation appears strong.

The increase in visitation as noted in the survey of 20 US museums was across the board, with increases at both free admission sites as well as pay venues. This is evidenced by the Met in NY, which charges admission of $20.00. It saw its highest rate of visitors during 2008-2009 than it has seen in its 80 year history.

If I may "read between the lines", the news I find positive from the survey results is it appears more than ever, people are interested in our material culture, and that has to be a good sign for dealers, collectors, auctioneers and of course appraisers.

Goldtien states

The Art Newspaper of 20 museums across the country found that two-thirds have experienced a clear increase in visitor numbers over the past three years.

The trend holds for institutions with free and paid admissions alike, and institutions that show contemporary art have seen the most clear-cut increase. New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), one of the nation’s most expensive museums at $20 per ticket, had the best year in its 80-year history, bringing in 2.8 million visitors between 2008 and 2009. The size of its membership rose to a record 120,000. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s Frank Lloyd Wright retrospective was its best-attended show yet, attracting 372,000 people. The New York museum has also broken its 2008 attendance record of just over one million.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago saw a record 164,946 visitors attend this year’s Olafur Eliasson retrospective. Director Madeleine Grynsztejn cites a number of factors: the relatively low cost of a museum ticket, an increase in “staycations”, and a brighter spotlight on the city due to President Obama. The draw of the Art Institute of Chicago’s new Modern Wing, which opened in May, also helped.

A destination museum, such as Dia:Beacon in upstate New York is doing well, attracting 69,475 visitors so far this year. And the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) said this was its best year yet. Last year it attracted 142,000 people.

To read the full Art Newspaper article on musuem attendance, click HERE.