That’s 13 big ones too many

An announcement in The Straits Times on Saturday (30 July) brought news of the inevitable: the ArtScience Museum is lowering its admission fees. From the original one-time, no-readmission ticket price of 30 SGD, charges are now as low as 13 SGD, representing a reduction of more than half.

That’s still 13 dollars more than I’m willing to pay.

They can keep slashing prices all they like, it won’t change the fact that their shows REEK — big time. (Read an earlier review here.) Why would anyone want to pay more than, oh, say, a few pennies to look at replicas and reproductions of original works ? And we’re not talking a couple of those per show, these guys are bringing in entire exhibitions based on a shocking dearth of the real thing. Just google reviews of their current Van Gogh and Dali offerings …

I’ve said it before, but I’ll gladly say it again: ICK.

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CHEAPER ENTRY TO MBS MUSEUM

Ticket prices to the ArtScience Museum are reduced. Singapore residents get discounts and re-admission is now allowed. By Chen Shanshan.

The ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands is slashing its admission prices from today.

Tickets for adults will start from $13 – less than half the original $30 charge. It is now also possible to gain re-entry to the museum, a reversal of the original no-readmission policy, despite the hefty entry fee.

The new tiered pricing also allows visitors more flexibility as they can choose to pay more to see all the exhibitions, or less if they pick what shows they prefer. Singapore residents also get a discounted rate. All tickets include entry to the museum’s permanent ArtScience exhibition.

Ms Lynda Moo, 46, who visited the museum last month with a friend for the Van Gogh Alive, Dali: Mind Of A Genius and Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures And Monsoon Winds exhibitions, welcomed the new ticket prices.

The managing director of a public relations company said: “It gives people a lot more flexibility and flexibility invites people to at least be able to enjoy exhibitions without feeling like they have paid for something they’re either not interested in or don’t have time to look at.”

The museum’s original ticket charges and no-readmission policy came under fire earlier this year from visitors unhappy about what they deemed high prices and the inconvenience about not being allowed to leave the museum for breaks.

Museum director Tom Zaller said the museum took into account such criticisms in restructuring their prices: “To enhance the visitor experience and allow more Singaporeans to enjoy ArtScience Museum and its world-class exhibitions, we’ve listened to feedback from the public, considered them seriously and come up with solutions to address their preferences.”

Ms Moo applauded the new pricing structure as “an incentive” and said that she may return to the museum with her two daughters.

The ArtScience Museum is currently hosting three travelling exhibitions – Van Gogh Alive, Dali: Mind Of A Genius and Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures And Monsoon Winds – as well as its permanent exhibition.

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