In 2022, there were a total of 23.5 million museum visits, despite the mandatory closure in the first 4 weeks of the year. While the return of the public is good news for the sector, the rising costs are putting significant pressure on museums.
With a 10% inflation rate, government subsidies for museums increased by only 1% from 2021 to 2022. Because many museums had to dip into their reserves significantly during the COVID-19 crisis and rely heavily on subsidies, many institutions are facing financial difficulties. In 2022, 49% of the museums, especially medium-sized institutions, had a negative operating result.
Subsidies need to increase in line with inflation The increasing visitor numbers show that museums are popular among a diverse audience. However, the museums' own revenues are not sufficient to offset the rising costs. It is expected that the financial pressure will continue to increase in the coming years. The accessibility of museums is at risk if they have to raise their admission prices further. To prevent this and further decline in the sector, it is necessary to have subsidies increase in line with inflation. This way, museums can continue to innovate, offer a good range of exhibits, and contribute to building connections in our society.
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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