The longstanding 'pay what you wish' admission policy by the Metropolitan Museum of art has been reached into an agreement to settle the three-year old class action lawsuit.
Under the provisions of the settlement, the Museum has agreed to reword its signs. Instead of 'recommended admission,' the new sign will say 'suggested admission.' Thus, the recommended $25 admission fee will be mandatory.
The Museum announced that the changes will be implemented in March to coincide with the opening of The Met Breuer, its additional location on Madison Avenue at 75th Street.
According to Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of the Museum, "The opening of The Met Breuer presented an ideal time to put this case behind us, and to refine the admission signs for our 'Suggested Admission/Pay What You Wish' policy, not only at The Met Breuer, but also at The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters."
He also stated that the recent branding and marketing has been aimed at simplifying the message of welcome to the public and emphasizing that the Museum is accessible to the widest possible audience.
He added, "At no other museum can so many extraordinary shows and such an outstanding collection be visited in a single day-with a single suggested admission. We hope the public will take full advantage of this policy at all three of our locations. As a non-profit, the support the Met receives through admissions contributes to our ongoing operations and programming; it is critical to our success and greatly appreciated."
In 2013, certain lawsuit was filed barring the Museum from charging admission fees in any amount. It is alleged in the suit that there is no legal basis in charging any admission fees, as it has been done for more than four decades.
Yet, Judge Shirley Werner Kornreich decided in Museum's favor. She ruled that the intent of an 1893 law giving state support to the museum - but also specifying that admission be free five days a week - was to secure the broadest possible access to the Met.
Moreover, since 1971, under an agreement with the city during lean financial times, the museum has charged a suggested admission fee to be able to fund its operations to provide such access.
As stated in the verdict, "For those without means, or those who do not wish to express their gratitude financially, a de minimis contribution of a penny is accepted. Admission to the Met is de facto free for all."
She concluded that cutting the museum's budget will undermine the fundamental mission of the museum to provide access and education to the public.
