Openness, Priority, and Free Museums

Datos Bibliográficos

ID7870646
AutoresJack Hume (0009-0006-3511-0148, University College London London UK, autor de correspondencia)
Año2025
Volumen42
Número3
Páginas962-993
Fecha de publicación2025-07-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Applied Philosophy (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0264-3758 • E-ISSN: 1468-5930
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/japp.70001
OpenAlexW4408319692
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas55

This article develops a fairness‐based criticism of the UK's policy of promoting free admissions at major museums. With a focus on geographic inequalities and per‐capita museums spending, I argue that free admissions can be a surprisingly bad way of promoting cultural opportunities for disadvantaged groups. My criticism emphasises the fact that free admissions consume resources without necessarily providing targeted benefits to disadvantaged groups and addressing background inequalities. Given that museums vary in their location, visitor profile, and operating costs, this critique does not apply to all museums. It applies to the largest and most popular museums in the most advantaged areas, which can expect to keep drawing significant numbers while charging. If we are aiming to prioritise the interests of less advantaged groups, we should be in favour of charging at London's major museums, to finance ‘levelling up’ across regions, and more direct access‐promoting measures in targeted outreach, collaboration, and programming

Aesthetics · Art · Epistemology · Openness to experience · Political science · Sociology · Art History and Market Analysis · Cultural Industries and Urban Development · Museums and Cultural Heritage · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology