Why aren't cultural events free?

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Why aren't cultural events free?

27 January 2023

With many cultural events, there's sometimes an expectation for them to be free to access. But why should they be?

Cultural events are a fundamental part of society and provide a way for people to experience new perspectives and ideas, and to connect with others who share their interests. Therefore, many people believe that cultural events should be free to access, and that charging admission is a barrier to enjoyment.

Well, we agree! But while it may be true that cultural events should be free, the reality is that whether it's you or not, somewhere down the line, someone is paying for it. There are several reasons why this is the case:

Production costs: Putting on a cultural event requires significant financial investment. From renting the space, to paying performers and artists, to marketing and promotion, there are many costs that must be covered in order to make an event happen.

Paying for talent: Many cultural events rely on the talents of performers, artists, and other professionals. These individuals deserve to be paid for their time and expertise, and charging admission is one way to ensure that they are compensated for their work.

Maintaining quality: In order to attract attendees and keep them coming back, cultural events need to be high-quality and well-produced. This requires ongoing investment in equipment, materials, and personnel, which can often only be sustained through the revenue generated by ticket sales.

Sustainability: Many cultural institutions, like museums, are non-profit organisations, which means that they rely on ticket sales and donations to keep their doors open. Without these revenues, they would not be able to continue offering the same level of programming.

The obvious solution here is that the governments, councils, foundations, trusts, public funds and philanthropists should bare the cost of these events so we don't have to. But the truth is - they do! But it's often still not enough to cover the cost outright. In fact, in most cases, the price you paid for your ticket was significantly reduced due to funding from one of these avenues which without, you might have paid double or triple!

Securing funding is difficult though, for a number of reasons:

Limited funds: Government budgets are often limited, and there are many competing demands for funds. This means that cultural events may not always be a priority, and may not receive the funding they need to operate.

Competition: Cultural events are not the only organisations competing for public funding. Other causes, such as education, health care, and infrastructure, may be seen as more pressing needs.

Bureaucracy: Securing public funding often involves navigating complex bureaucratic processes, which can be time-consuming and difficult to navigate. This can make it difficult for cultural organisations to secure the funding they need in a timely manner.

Political priorities: Public funding is often influenced by political priorities, which can change from year to year. This can make it difficult for cultural organisations to plan for the long term, and can lead to uncertainty about the level of funding they will receive.

Lack of awareness: Many people may not be aware of the importance of cultural events, or the role that public funding plays in supporting them. This can make it difficult to secure support from elected officials and the general public.

And let's remember what you get out of such events: memorable experiences, socialisation, relaxation, enrichment, perspective, ideas, mobility, fun, and the list goes on - why wouldn't you pay for that?

Of course, there are times when these experiences simply aren't financially viable for certain groups or areas which is why Baccanalia does all it to squish that ticket price down as far as possible. Since November 2021, we've facilitated over 2,100 free ticket to events in our programmes to widen access where it might otherwise not have been possible. We've also hosted activities that don't require tickets at all.

So remember, when we do charge for participation, it's because we have to in order to make the event possible.

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