The Met Ends Free Admissions Policy For Out-Of-Town Visitors

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Metropolitan Museum of Art will end its pay-as-you-wish admissions policy for out-of-town visitors starting later this year, the museum announced Thursday.

Visitors who aren't from New York City or students from New Jersey or Connecticut will be required to pay an entrance fee to enter one of The Met's three locations starting March 1, the museum announced. The updated admissions policy was approved by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

"The Met and the City are partners, and we are grateful to Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Finkelpearl for their thoughtful review of this policy and for working with us to ensure that The Met will continue to serve all of New York and our visitors from around the nation and the world for generations to come," Daniel Weiss, president and CEO of The Met, said in a statement.

The new entrance fees for out-of-town visitors will be the same as the current "suggested" fees of $25 for adults, $17 for seniors and $12 for students, The Met announced. Children under the age of 12 will still receive free admission to the museum.

Under the new admissions policy tickets will be valid for three days, so visitors can easily access the three Met locations around the city. The Met's main building is located on Fifth Avenue and East 82nd Street, but the museum also operates the Met Breuer on Madison Avenue and East 75th Street and The Cloisters in Inwood's Fort Tryon Park.

"This updated admissions policy will give the Museum a solid foundation to continue to grow its programming and engage New Yorkers from all corners of the city and visitors from around the world, while providing a unique opportunity to direct public resources to underserved communities throughout the five boroughs," Tom Finkelpearl, the city Department of Cultural Affairs commissioner, said in a statement.

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