Frankfurt City Assembly strengthens cultural education
(kus) At its meeting on 15 December, the City Assembly decided that from 1 January 2017, admission for children and young people up to the age of majority to all permanent and special exhibitions in the city's museums will be free of charge. The regulation applies to 16 exhibition venues: Archaeological Museum, Caricatura Museum Frankfurt, German Architecture Museum, Hindemith Cabinet in the Cowherd Tower, Historical Museum Frankfurt, Icon Museum, Institute of Urban History, Jewish Museum, Children's Museum Frankfurt, Kronberger Haus, Museum of Applied Arts, the three dependencies Museum of Modern Art 1-2-3, Museum Judengasse and Weltkulturen Museum.
Director of Cultural Affairs Ina Hartwig emphasizes the importance of the decision: "Free admission for children and young people to the city's museums is an important signal for the expansion of cultural education and participation. For greater social togetherness, the doors of cultural institutions must open to let children in, regardless of their background or income. When children learn to form their own aesthetic judgement and express themselves individually, this strengthens their self-confidence. They are invited to actively participate in the city's cultural offerings."
Another new feature is that the student ID of Goethe University students is valid as an admission ticket to the city's museums as well as the Film Museum. The approximately 46,000 students simply show their Goethecard as a cultural ticket when entering the museums and are admitted to the exhibitions free of charge. The project started in the summer semester of 2015, initiated by the AStA. Students pay one euro per semester. After a successful trial run, the offer will now be made permanent by a resolution of the city council.
Over the next year, experience with the new admission price regulation will be collected and evaluated. The amount of reduced revenue generated by free admission will also be determined at the end of the year. Based on the experience of the past years, a loss of admission of 80,000 euros has been calculated so far. However, it can be assumed that the new regulation will succeed in attracting more children and young people to the exhibitions, including those who may never have entered a museum before
