Metropolitan Museum of Art Raising It's "Suggested Admission Fee"

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which charges a "suggested" donation of $20, has been facing "a number of daunting, ongoing budgetary challenges." For the first time in six years, the Met is raising its suggested admission fee to $25 beginning July 1st. While the museum wouldn't give a solid number for what the average visitor pays (for fear that all visitors will start paying only that amount), museumgoers have been shortchanging the institution for years now, and a spokesperson did admit that visitor contributions have decreased this year.

A highly scientific look around the internet confirms that plenty of people don't find it necessary to pay the full suggested fee, so the increase is probably not going to be the museum's saving grace. Recently, they have also implemented a $50 special viewing pass for the Alexander McQueen exhibit.

The Met is located at 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street.