The Indianapolis Museum of Art will begin charging for admission in April of next year, the museum announced Friday.
Museum Director and CEO Charles Venable says the museum's board of governors unanimously approved the decision Thursday. He says the action was necessary given several issues.
Venable says the museum's recent expansion, which includes 200,000 square feet of new public galleries and amenities, was based on charging admission and having a larger membership base than currently exists. Ninety-nine percent of the museums's annual budget comes from fundraising, membership, public support and its $360 million endowment.
He says the board of governors felt that charging for individual items such as parking and special exhibitions didn't sit well with its visitors.
The museum charged admission from 2005 to 2007. Adult admission will cost $18 and admission for children ages 6-17 will cost $10.