Met Museum Director Defends Admission Policy

In recent weeks, you may have read about a lawsuit filed by one of the Metropolitan Museum’s Fifth Avenue neighbors. It inaccurately alleges that the Met deceives the public by not making its long-standing pay-what-you-wish admission policy clear enough, and asserts that we are violating a nineteenth-century New York State law that once mandated that we be free to the public. This was followed by a second legal action, filed by the same law firm, seeking monetary damages.

We have explained to the press the genesis and legality of our recommended admission policy and intend to defend it vigorously. But the legal process takes time—so I wanted to communicate directly with you, our audience, about our admission policy, and to clarify its origin and importance.

The entire statement may be viewed here.

Tags: admission, art, entrance, free, law, lawsuit, met museum, new york city