Tracey Emin has called for wealthy people to donate to museums and galleries, saying the contributions could make “a hell of a difference” in the battle to keep art free to the general public.
Visitors to permanent exhibitions across the UK have long been able to visit the spaces without paying thanks to a policy brought in by the Labour government back in 2001.
But funding pressures have ignited a debate over whether the system – which sees museums and galleries subsidised by the government – is still viable.
Emin made her case for keeping art free at the opening of Tracey Emin: A Second Life, her new career retrospective at London’s Tate Modern, where visitors do not have to pay to access the main collections.
“The longer it stays free the better it is for everybody,” she told The Times. “But I would also say if you are someone like me [one of the country’s most successful and wealthiest artists] you should join the membership for every museum you go to, or you should tap and make a donation every time you go there and that would make a hell of a difference.
“The longer we don’t have to pay the better but people in responsible positions should start getting memberships not just for one museum but for every one that they visit.”
The 62-year-old’s comments come after the National Gallery announced significant cuts as it faces a £8.2m deficit.
Subsidising the UK’s museums and galleries costs the government £480m a year and it was last month revealed that the Treasury had considered ending the funding in its November 2025 budget.
One of the options tabled by the Treasury was the implementation of charges for tourists from abroad, which would mirror the approach at a number of European museums, where EU citizens are given discounts or periods of free entry.
The plan was scrapped amid pushback from ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, ITV reported.
Sharon Heal, Director at The Museums Association, which represents two thousand UK museums, said: “We strongly support free entry to national museums and believe it has been a major cultural policy success which delivers a huge range of cultural, learning and economic benefits.”
Heal said: “Admission charges for international visitors could also cause reputational damage for the UK which would likely impact tourism and affect other sectors like retail and hospitality.”
Visitors to galleries and museums outside of the UK usually find they have to pay for entry. The Louvre, in Paris, charges up to €32 (£28) for general admission, while general access to the Reina Sofía in Madrid - which houses works including Pablo Picasso’s famous Guernica painting - is €12 (£10).
Over in New York, the Museum of Modern Art, where the Met Gala is held, charges $30 (£22) for an adult ticket.
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