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
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