Albright-Knox increasing admission by $2
Moving “Action/Abstraction” from the St. Louis Art Museum to Albright-Knox Art Gallery in February will be far costlier than the Buffalo museum anticipated.
As a result, some Buffalo art afficionadoes anxious to see the first major U.S. exhibition on abstract expressionism in 20 years will pay more at the door.
The Albright said Wednesday that higher operating costs will force it to raise adult admission from $10 to $12 on Jan. 1 — the fifth hike since entry fees were instituted in 1992.
Seniors and students will continue to pay $8, and members and children under 12 will still be let in free.
“This modest increase is necessary to the ongoing financial health of the museum, which is being severely impacted by increased costs in all areas of our operations,” said Albright-Knox Director Louis Grachos.
Insurance and transportation expenses in particular are making it more difficult to bring in major traveling shows such as “Action/Abstraction: Pollock, de Kooning and American Art, 1940-1976” — even though this is one the Albright helped organize.
“In terms of the kind of rotation we’re doing with exhibitions, especially major ones like ‘Action/Abstraction,’ transportation and insurance costs are having a major impact,” Grachos said.
With the nation in a prolonged recession, “we realized this was not an ideal time to raise admission,” he said. “But when we looked at museums nationwide, we found we would still be in the below-average range.
“We feel we’re still offering very reasonable admission prices,” Grachos said. Entry to most major museums is $15 to $20, he said.
Museum regulars may view the more expensive individual adult ticket as an incentive to join the Albright, Grachos said. Individual memberships start at $35, and the family rate is $75.
In addition to keeping the senior and student rate at the current level, the gallery will continue to offer free admission from 3 to 10 p.m. Fridays for the popular “Gusto at the Gallery” series, and free guided tours for elementary and high school students under the “Art’scool” program.
“Action/Abstraction,” featuring more than 50 key works by 31 artists, was organized by New York City’s Jewish Museum in collaboration with the Albright. It will run from Feb. 13 through June 10.
Opening Jan. 23 will be “Cummins Wide: Photographs from the Arkansas Prison.” The series was shot by University at Buffalo professor Bruce Jackson in 1975 at Cummins Prison Farm, then considered the nation’s worst lockup.
Continuing in January will be the current exhibitions “Remix: The Third Dimension,” “Op Art Revisited” and “From Tusk to Tail: Animals and Art.”
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