The admission desks at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are intimidating. They make it seem like you must pay a high admission. As a student of art in the city, I urge you to pay only one dollar — or less. I usually do this. There is no shame. It means that you’re not a tourist. You are using the museum as a New Yorker and as an educational resource. I feel that all New York museums should be free. For all the money that is spent on new acquisitions and new buildings, why not put the money toward admissions? And why not pay the workers better?
Questions:
Should museums be free? Why? Why not?
How much did you pay?
The Almighty One Dollar will Gain You Entrance to the High Temple of Art
artofviewingart 
That dollar bill graphic is hilarious. And, I agree – whole-heartedly. It should be free.
Admission to all museum should be free. Look at the Barns Foundation, that is what happens when your in it for the money.
I agree – admission to museums should be free. From what I understand, museums that are “suggested donations” are forced to do that as a part of an agreement with the city. They are exempt from real estate tax if they do not formally charge admission.
While I would love museums to be free or subsidized, our country and state budgets also do not allot enough money for the arts. I would rather pay something and do a little to sustain the museums in general. My compromise was $5.