Oh yuk. If Bayeux is going to be a super-priced, super-queued "experience" I think I'll save my money and go to see it once it's back in France. A section of the French art world is not happy about its loan to Britain - I watched a great French TV programme about it, featuring much grumbling - very good for my 'grumbling' French vocabulary. At the other extreme of culture (sic) I'm happy to skip the Disney experience for all eternity. We visited the LA one when my children were 5 and 8, and after a couple of hours they asked "Can we go now?" Quite simply it was crap.
I know but it is in the American DNA, it seems, and now people are being fleeced for the experience. I really dread the Bayeux arrival for this reason.
The same is happening in theatres - whereas once being a season ticket holder would give me priority access to one-off specials or in-demand productions now a £100+ membership is needed. And given that these are publically-subsidised organisations it is hard not to feel that this is elitism by the backdoor.
Yes I ought to have included theatres, you are quite right. I think I will refer to this in my next Arts Stack, and will credit you with the reminder, thank you!
I really want to see the van Eyck exhibition, and might save up for the membership as it seems good value for money, but what if it won’t help me skip the queue? What about the disabled/chronically ill? I’ve a chronic pain condition, which makes queuing for more than 10-15 minutes a nightmare so I shall have to investigate. I enjoyed the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition at the V&A all the more because I didn’t have to queue thanks to staggered entry, and I deliberately booked a slot in the morning on a weekday - it was still quite full, but not crowded.
Dear Anna thank you so much for your response. I think Membership will definitely help you skip the queue but if you have a medical condition I would contact the NG and explain the circumstances, this will help hugely and I think they would help you in any case, member or no. Hope to see you there! Best wishes Rosie
The thing that has really ramped up membership is early-hours access for members only, which has led to a massive uptick in BM visitors. I'm torn as know they need the money and it's not coming from Governments and the list of acceptable sponsors grows thin.
Thanks for the tips for art visits on my London trips this year! Living in France, for Bayeux not sure why I wouldn't just go and see it here, I guess there's no accounting for human behaviour.
The way theatre ticket prices have outstripped inflation adds to this. Top price in the mid-70s was around a fiver - which, with inflation, would be £40 - £50 these days.
With ticket prices of £250 not that unusual, you'd be lucky if £50 would get you a seat in the nosebleeds.
(Yes, I know technology can be expensive but it’s not always a factor.)
The concern has to be that if we price out youngsters, where future audiences will come from.
Oh yuk. If Bayeux is going to be a super-priced, super-queued "experience" I think I'll save my money and go to see it once it's back in France. A section of the French art world is not happy about its loan to Britain - I watched a great French TV programme about it, featuring much grumbling - very good for my 'grumbling' French vocabulary. At the other extreme of culture (sic) I'm happy to skip the Disney experience for all eternity. We visited the LA one when my children were 5 and 8, and after a couple of hours they asked "Can we go now?" Quite simply it was crap.
Totally with you on Disney! Even if they were to pay me $2000 to spend a day there I'm not sure I'd do it.
Having been once, I would rather gouge my eyes out with a teaspoon...
I know but it is in the American DNA, it seems, and now people are being fleeced for the experience. I really dread the Bayeux arrival for this reason.
The same is happening in theatres - whereas once being a season ticket holder would give me priority access to one-off specials or in-demand productions now a £100+ membership is needed. And given that these are publically-subsidised organisations it is hard not to feel that this is elitism by the backdoor.
Yes I ought to have included theatres, you are quite right. I think I will refer to this in my next Arts Stack, and will credit you with the reminder, thank you!
I really want to see the van Eyck exhibition, and might save up for the membership as it seems good value for money, but what if it won’t help me skip the queue? What about the disabled/chronically ill? I’ve a chronic pain condition, which makes queuing for more than 10-15 minutes a nightmare so I shall have to investigate. I enjoyed the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition at the V&A all the more because I didn’t have to queue thanks to staggered entry, and I deliberately booked a slot in the morning on a weekday - it was still quite full, but not crowded.
Dear Anna thank you so much for your response. I think Membership will definitely help you skip the queue but if you have a medical condition I would contact the NG and explain the circumstances, this will help hugely and I think they would help you in any case, member or no. Hope to see you there! Best wishes Rosie
Thank you so much, Rosie.
The thing that has really ramped up membership is early-hours access for members only, which has led to a massive uptick in BM visitors. I'm torn as know they need the money and it's not coming from Governments and the list of acceptable sponsors grows thin.
Thanks for the tips for art visits on my London trips this year! Living in France, for Bayeux not sure why I wouldn't just go and see it here, I guess there's no accounting for human behaviour.
The way theatre ticket prices have outstripped inflation adds to this. Top price in the mid-70s was around a fiver - which, with inflation, would be £40 - £50 these days.
With ticket prices of £250 not that unusual, you'd be lucky if £50 would get you a seat in the nosebleeds.
(Yes, I know technology can be expensive but it’s not always a factor.)
The concern has to be that if we price out youngsters, where future audiences will come from.
EXACTLY. You have hit the nail on the head.