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Judith H. Dobrzynski on Culture

Bravo: the Smithsonian gets more visitor-friendly

I wrote yesterday about museum pricing strategies, and while catching up on what happened while I was away, I was pleased to discover some good business sense at the Smithsonian Institution. At three of its most popular museums, hours will be extended to 7:30 p.m. during tourist-heavy spring and summer months, in an effort by the new Secretary Wayne Clough to try to increase revenue.

Most Smithsonian museums close at 5:30 p.m., but now the Museum of American History, the Museum of Natural History and the Air & Space Museum will stay open two hours longer most days through Labor Day.

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for strawberry2.jpgSo, kudos — and a strawberry — to Clough.

This wouldn’t work for all museums: the added costs would be too high. More important, traffic patterns differ from city to city, museum to museum. Yet as with pricing, there’s room at many arts institutions — not just museums — for experimentation with hours to maximize convenience for museum visitors.  

 

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About Judith H. Dobrzynski

Now an independent journalist, I've worked as a reporter in the culture and business sections of The New York Times, and been the editor of the Sunday business section and deputy business editor there as well as a senior editor of Business Week and the managing editor of CNBC, the cable TV

About Real Clear Arts

This blog is about culture in America as seen through my lens, which is informed and colored by years of reporting not only on the arts and humanities, but also on business, philanthropy, science, government and other subjects. I may break news, but more likely I will comment, provide

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