A National Audit Office report on national museums reveals that they raised £108 million in self-generated income in the last financial year, compared with the £270 million they received as government grant-in-aid. Self-generated income derives from fundraising (£68m), trading activities (£22m) and admission charges (£18m), but excludes Lottery awards. Fundraising income has fallen from its peak in 2000-1 (£90m), when Lottery and Millennium projects were at their height, attracting large private donations. Trading income has been rising by around 4% a year. Income from admission charges has fallen since free entry was introduced at most museums in 1999-2001, although tickets for temporary exhibitions still bring in substantial sums. The study on “Income generated by the Museums and Galleries” also breaks down figures for individual museums in 2002-3, with Tate far outperforming the other three major London art institutions.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'Decline in museum fundraising, while Tate outperforms other London museums'
