Museum Attendance in the New York Metropolitan Region: A Survey of Patterns of Attendance at Six Selected Museums
GENERAL
This is a a supplementary report of the second regional plan. As part of the research for the Second Regional Plan, Regional Plan Association is examining the present problem and future prospects for key region-shaping activities including higher education, medical care, the performing arts, and library and museum services. This report examines museum services. Subsequent reports will examine the future of the other activities.
It may well be asked why museums merit attention from regional planners. The answer is simple. To plan the Region, we must know how it works. We know something about patterns of use and future trends in higher education, medical care, and library services. Official agencies collect data in these areas. We know less about the performing arts or museum services. With increasing levels of education and affluence, the visual and performing arts are becoming important elements on the metropolitan scene. Museum attendance and museum development have both increased substantially in the last few years. The American Association of Museums reports that two new museums open their doors in the U. S. each week. These trends can be expected to continue. Our research indicates that in the New York Region alone, museums will spend about $75 million for new facilities between the present time and 1975. Museum development will thus be of consequence in the future metropolitan pattern.
CONTENTS
Introduction:
The regional context.
Why a survey?
Results of the survey:
Who goes to museums.
When and how often people go to museums.
Where museum visitors come from.
The intra-regional drawing power of museums.
How people travel to museums.
Multi-purpose tripmaking.
The nature of activities linked to museum trips.
The future museum and the future metropolis.
Appendix:
Appendix tables.
Sample interview form.
