New York’s MET Museum Marks 7.4 Million Attendance Record in 2018

Yet again for the Love of Art…

This year dawned quite well with the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art announcing it proficuous development that took place in the previous year, 2018. On January 4th the institution reported to have welcomed close to 7.4 million visitors to its three locations; The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Cloisters, and The Met Breu.

The figures marked a new record with an increase of 7 million from 2017. This was due in part to the attendance for the Heavenly Bodies Exhibition: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination – which showcased the relationship between Fashion and the Catholic Church. The exhibit attracted close to 1.7 million people to The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters as from May 10th to October 8th 2018. The finals weeks of Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman and Designer, which was on view from February 12th 2018, together with David Hockney, which closed on February 25th 2018, also contributed to the record.

It is for the love of art that an unprecedented number of visitors was marked in 2018. The President and CEO of the Museum Daniel H. Weiss expressed a gratifying feeling on the new attendance, noting that the met staff as well as other individuals such as the curators and scientists made astounding efforts and contributions. "We're delighted that so many people decided to spend their time at The Met in the last year," said Weiss. "It's inspiring to know that New Yorkers and visitors from around the world are engaging with the vast array of exhibitions, programs, and activities we have available, and it's a wonderful tribute to the power of art in the world today."

The attendance was not affected by the new implemented pricing policy - introduced on March 1st 2018 - which allows the New Yorkers and students from New Jersey and Connecticut to pay as they wish (voluntarily), while the other visitors pay a mandatory fee $25.This new admissions policy is aiming at increasing the Met’s revenue through variety means such as its retails as well as restaurant services.

The attendance record shows that 32% of the visitors were New York residents while 34% was from the rest of the United States. The Museum’s history as the most visited tourist attractions, managed to have 34% as international visitors with China acquiring 14%.

Founded in 1870 the Met has artworks from over 5,000 years ago that are on view during its different exhibitions, for people across the world-wide to have a fine taste. Each passing day, the Met offers more and more services to its visitors, ranging classes, programs, activities and events, not forgetting the much anticipated by many exhibitions. The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art is a place where one should definitely pay a visit at its three different locations.

Much hope there is for 2019 to mark a better attendance record than 2018.