Are French museums soon to be free ?

The journalist Sabine Gignoux wonders if the free entrance to national museums that the president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy wants to introduce can democratise museum access. "Free entry indisputably affects the number of visits, at least at the beginning. ... But will there really be an impact on the people from the most modest backgrounds who never cross the threshold of museums that are considered intimidating and elitist ? Or is this simply a bonus for already regular, often well-off visitors ? ... If applied to all national museums, these measures have been estimated by the Direction des Musées de France at a cost of 200 million euros, 6 % of the ministry's budget. Will this ministry be able to keep the presidential promise without asking museums to save money or donors to help out ? Is it all really worthwhile ?"

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