EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2

2008 K-12 STUDENTS FROM OSHKOSH AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT ATTENDANCE AREA ON FIELD TRIP ARE FREE

ADMISSION TO INCREASE FOR OTHERS

Imagine discovering a deathly light saber from the original Star Wars movie and a bullwhip and leather coat made famous by dashing archaeologist Indiana Jones. Picture gazing at the actual clothing worn by America’s most famous President, Abraham Lincoln. Maybe the treasures of Imperial Russia, the award winning art of Jan Brett, or Oshkosh history are more to your liking. No matter what you like, 2008 will be a truly vibrant year at this museum. And it’s all very affordable, despite an admission increase that went into effect January 2, 2008.

This fall the Museum Board approved a change in the museum’s admission schedule. All K-12 students in the Oshkosh Area School District Attendance Area who come to the museum as part of an organized field trip will be admitted free, including parochial and home schooled children. Museum Director Brad Larson explained, “We want to encourage teachers to view the museum as a strong educational resource. We hope that providing free admission to Oshkosh students will encourage them to visit.”

K-12 students from outside the Oshkosh Area School District Attendance Area will pay the normal admission for a child 6 through 17 years of age. Effective January 2, that admission will be $3.50. Also effective January 2, adult admission will increase to $7. A museum visit is still a wonderful bargain. There are new things to see and do and the museum continues to schedule some extraordinary exhibits.

Members will continue to receive free admission, except for exhibitions that have their own fee schedule. In a change of benefits for 2008, members will receive free guest passes to distribute to family and friends.

Adults: $7
Children (6-17): $3.50
Developmentally Disabled: $1
Members: Free

Why the Increase?
A large part of the museum’s annual operating budget comes from local tax levy dollars, but due to state levy restrictions, that funding has not kept pace with fast-rising costs. For that reason, the museum increasingly depends on revenue from admissions and store sales as a growing part of its annual budget.

As more and more museums across America feel the pinch of tight funding, they look for dynamic traveling exhibits to fill galleries and increase attendance, or new, innovative ways of creating long term exhibitions that fulfill changing visitor expectations. High demand for exhibitions creates increased rental prices.

Additionally, there is tremendous need for philanthropic dollars from dozens of worthwhile nonprofits, including this museum. But when exhibitions are not full underwritten with private sponsorship dollars, it means the museum must accordingly finance part of the rental and shipping cost with admission dollars, instead of designating those admission dollars for operating costs.