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Dear Kate, We started to charge for some vents in 2010, and the results have been variable. Before that all our children's events were free regardless whether they were run by ourselves or we'd employed a freelancer, and we'd run about 20 activities during the year (all during the holidays). When we started charging activities we kept the same number of free events and charged for the additional events - these tended to be Saturdays. The additional events were new History workshops and craft events linked to things such as Father's day, the World Cup, etc. We charge between £1 and £3 depending on the events (the History days were £3 but we paid a Freelancers £30 to run the 2 hour session). Most of the events we run are lead by us with the occasional freelancer. Our charged events saw a noticeable drop in numbers attending, but as they were on Saturdays, this also had a negative impact - Saturdays just don't seem to be that popular. A teeshirt decorating activity that we charged £1.50 (I think) for attracted about 60 people but I would have expected at least 80 to turn up. We probably just about covered the cost of teeshirts and fabric pens, etc. I ran a lovely "Hungry Caterpillar" activity this year, paid a freelancer £180 and saw only about 16 people turn up, and the same freelancer ran a Castles workshop which saw only 20 participate. I think these figures are at least half what the would have been if they'd been free. Before we started to charge I undertook research and the results indicated that people would be happy to pay, they also requested activities on Saturdays - there's obviously a disparity between what people say on questionnaires and what the reality is. We have continued to offer paid for events (including themed History Days). Whilst our bottom line is to cover our costs we were hoping to generate a (small) surplus which would go towards my assistant's salary. I will continue to run paid for and free activities. I haven't tried donations get, except we had a donation bucket for our Indiana James events in the summer but it wasn't very prominent and only about £30 went in. I don't think people undervalue free events, although charging does allow you more scope in the type of event/materials available. I think one of the problems we face in Trowbridge is that the museum has been free for so long, it is hard changing people's minds that they might have to pay sometimes. Our prices have been very affordable and we still run as many free events as before so I don't think we are any less accessible than before. No one who has come to the paid for activities has complained about the cost. Regards, David Birks Trowbridge Museum From: List for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Osborne, Kate Sent: 28 November 2011 16:11 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: charging for family events Hello All I bet this one has been around before but indulge me.... We're looking at charging for some family events which hitherto were free. We're thinking of the following sort of combo: Trained volunteer run very simple activities (eg trying on costume) free to users, mornings only (or similar) drop in format Staff run activities - more involved, consumables involved, free to users, donations suggested to cover cost of materials, or maybe small charge like £1 or 50p per child, drop in. Workshop leader run activities, more specialist, consumables involved, costs covered by ticket price, limited number of places, book in advance. More likely to be £10 a head. I am hoping that with this sort of combo we will get a good mix of financial accessibility, different depths of engagement, good quality activities at all times, and not lose money by year end. However there are questions like will the free events seem 'less good' than those we charge for? Perhaps we should charge the same for all staff/workshop leader run events and aim for it evening out (eg instead of £1 and £10, we charge £5 and £5 across the board, leaving just the volunteer led sessions as free ones). I'd love to know what other combinations/approaches GEMMERS have found worked or doesn't work - again I will circulate responses. Many thanks in advance. Kate Kate Osborne| Learning & Skills Officer Royal Albert Memorial Museum | Bradninch Offices | Bradninch Place | Gandy Street | Exeter | EX4 3LS (t) 01392 665965 (f) 01392 421252 (e) [log in to unmask] (w) http://www.exeter.gov.uk/ramm Help us improve by rating our website: http://www.rammuseum.org.uk/Visiting-Us/ <http://www.rammuseum.org.uk/Visiting-Us/%20> Find out What's on: http://www.rammuseum.org.uk/Whats-on/ Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RAMMuseum Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RAMMuseum ________________________________ Disclaimer: http://www.exeter.gov.uk/disclaimer ________________________________ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + GEM list: Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask] For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=GEM + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + GEM list: Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask] For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=GEM + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +