Oxford museum to offer free entry again for residents

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 16:33 · Archive

Oxford City Council is making the Museum of Oxford free again for local residents after a year of charging entry fees.

Oxford City Council's cabinet has approved a plan to make the Museum of Oxford free again for residents, reversing a controversial decision made a year earlier. Entry fees had been introduced to address a budget gap at the museum, which is subsidised by the city council.

City leader Susan Brown, who was in charge when charges were introduced, described the return to free entry as making the situation 'right'. She said: 'People should go there, and now nobody in Oxford will have an excuse not to go there because it will be free again.'

The pilot scheme for free admission for people who can prove city residency will run from January 4 until March 31. The council plans to make it permanent through its budget-setting process if successful. According to the council's culture and community development manager, Paula Redway, donations 'plummeted' and visitor numbers 'dropped' after the decision to charge was announced. The charges prompted backlash from campaign group Save Our Museum and a petition against them. The plan for the museum moving forward includes new fundraising avenues, though the funding gap has not been fully closed.

How it is being reported

• 'Regret' at charging as Oxford museum entry to be free again for residents"We always regretted having to introduce charges for local residents", said Oxford's leader as fees for the city's museum are partially reversed.Oxfordshire Guardian · 22 Oct, 16:00
• 'Regret' at charging as Oxford museum entry to be free again for residents"We always regretted having to introduce charges for local residents", said Oxford's leader as fees for the city's museum are partially reversed.Oxford Mail · 22 Oct, 16:00

In this story: Oxford City Council · Museum of Oxford · Susan Brown · Oxford · Save Our Museum

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