Art and Culture
Art Gallery of Alberta tells city council they want to stop charging admission
(Photo from Wikipedia)
EDMONTON—The Art Gallery of Alberta wants to stop charging admission for most of its exhibits.
It went before Edmonton city council on Monday looking for an additional 0,000 to help move to the new business plan.
Although most exhibits would be free, the gallery would still charge for some high-demand attractions.
AGA chairnan Darcy Trufyn says they can’t sustain what they’ve been doing with more alternatives out there for the public.
He says this is the third year in a row where they’ve finished with a surplus budget, so that proves they’re being fiscally prudent.
But he says the world is changing and there are so many different forms of entertainment.
“We recognize that we’re in competition, and unless we want to have a dwindling presence, we have to change.”
He says when they’ve had free admission days, because of a corporate sponsor, the attendance is usually as strong as it is for an entire month of charging $12 admission.
