Brian Edwards Media
Exhibition or extortion?
Posted by JC on January 11th, 2018
We went to the Banksy exhibition. I really like the political commentary in his work, and I wanted to see some of it en masse. Mainly prints, often duplicated several times in different colors. A couple of large works. Good information on the walls and a very good short doco. Not a bad small exhibition.
BUT – the entry price was $38 for everyone over 10. I don’t think I’ve ever paid that for a small exhibition, even in Europe. No concessions for students, seniors, school children.
I may be able to afford it, but what about students, particularly art students? See some Banksy, don’t eat for a couple of days…
Up the road at the Art Gallery you can see the Corsini exhibition for $19 – or $15 for students and seniors. Kids under 12 free.
Peter January 11th, 2018 at 16:08
This is a ridiculous price! Even the Louvre is only €9 (NZD15.00) THIS is extortion and I will not be going.
alwyn January 20th, 2018 at 16:24
I’m afraid your information about the Louvre is somewhat out of date.
It is currently 15 Euros, not 9.
That is still a bargain though.
John Northcott January 12th, 2018 at 09:26
The exhibition isn’t about entertaining and educating the public, it’s about making money. Someone has calculated that $38 is the optimum price to achieve that aim.
larry mitchell January 12th, 2018 at 16:46
Some budget setting beancounter … goofed.The price elasticity of demand at $38 for a Banksy ticket cannot! logically maximise revenue IMHO. Evidence: The modest Louvre pricing represents the “premium Art product” at less than one third the Banksy price. Go figger.
John Northcott January 12th, 2018 at 20:55
Ah, but there’s a culture of corporate greed in this country.
But don’t worry – the bean-counter will probably have had a bonus for the stress involved in getting it wrong.
pjr January 13th, 2018 at 10:37
A Sign of the Times
Zinc January 13th, 2018 at 14:44
That’s not an admission price – that’s Greed Tax.
Mike D January 14th, 2018 at 20:47
I don’t quite see the point in going, paying the money, then complaining that it’s too expensive. If it’s more money than the value you perceive, don’t go. If the value feels about right, or more than the cost of admission, don’t complain.
tony simpson January 15th, 2018 at 05:52
There’s a very interesting background article about this exhibition on The Spinoff, which points out that its actually been set up not by the artist but by his estranged manager. Like most art both historically and on the contemporary scene once it escapes from the control of the artist (who usually doesn’t benefit financially much) it ceases to be a cultural artifact and becomes a commodity fetish of some sort. The article in questions describes the exhibition as not of very high quality as representative of the work of this artist (who I greatly admire) but as little more than a prelude to the gift shop
Zinc January 16th, 2018 at 20:42
“prelude to the gift shop”…….very good!