A FEE FOR ART'S SAKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 138, 13 June 1932, Page 6

A FEE FOR ART'S SAKE.

: Curators of museums everywhere will watch with interest the results of Italy's decision to abolish free admittance to art galleries (says the-"Christian Science Monitor"). Although primarily intended to increase the State's revenue, the small charge of 25 cents should prove a pretty fair test- of why people go to museums. There is frequently something of the pathetic in the crowds that mill their way through the polished halls. While the earnest student and cultivated connoisseur abound, it is patent to the least, observant eye,that the do much more abound. Do the latter throng the corridors of museums to see the world's masterpieces, or to pass an inexpensive Sunday afternoon I" After all, the museum is just another form of the "show" business, and in that business it is axiomatic that he who gets in free is of all the most inappreciative. A graphic instance of this curious quirk was provided on the occasion of a remarkable loan'exhibition of Rembrandt's at a famous American public art museum. A visitor descending the stairway from the special exhibit was stopped by a person-ill --a-hurry with the question, "Sav, is there anything up there worth seeing?" If Italy's experiment could be extended to applying a part of the proceeds from the entrance fees to the compensation of competent instructor guides the plan would seem ideal. Instead of rather heartlessly allowing the untrained sight-seer to wander aimlessly through a, to him,.meaningless maze of exhibits, his intelligent interest could be aroused; and who knows how much latent appreciation of art might be awakened and developed? Incidentally, the action of the Ministry of Education in Rome may help to determine whether the general public is willing to pay the admission price of an ordinary movie for tlie privilege of studying the art and history c>f the ages.