As a magnificent Impressionist exhibition is underway at the Metropolitan, the museum is being accused of giving the wrong impression regarding entrance fee’s. Not only is it being accused it’s also facing a lawsuit. These accusations come hot off the heels of the Met’s great ‘Faking it’ exhibit. Art imitating life or just a frivolous lawsuit?
How much does it cost to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Well that’s the question being asked in the class-action suit which contends many people are unaware that the $25.00 admittance fee is just a suggestion. Anyone could actually legally pay as little as $1.00 to enter the Met. But who knew? According to the lawsuit thousands of people, especially tourists are unaware the fee is merely a suggested donation, and instead pay the full amount. The Museum is not only being accused of giving the wrong impression but of actually scheming to defraud the public into believing the fees are obligatory. Legal papers also claim the Museum is using misleading marketing and staff training to carry out this practice.
Museum spokesman Harold Holzer denied any deception and said a policy of requiring visitors to pay at least something has been in place for more than four decades. “We are confident that the courts will see through this insupportable nuisance lawsuit.”
There is however a 1893 New York State law that mandates the public should be admitted for free at least five days and two evenings per week at New York Museums. In exchange, the Met and other museums receive annual grants from the city. In the Met’s case they also get free rent for the building and land along Fifth Avenue and in Central Park.
So the plaintiff’s are saying show us the Monet, and the Museum is saying their policies like their artworks are genuine. All this after the ‘Faking it’ exhibit recently closed. This case promises to be artbreaking for someone. We will keep you posted!
