A number of private museums in Portugal have asked to join the national free admission plan that Portugal implemented in August for Portuguese residents.
The plan, which so far covers 38 institutions that have significant government funding, allows free entry on 52 user-selected days a year. Before that, admission was free only on Sundays and holidays. Since August, 300,000 have taken advantage.
Dalila Rodrigues, the Minister of Culture, told legislators that there have been “expressions of interest” from private museums. She said that they would have to be connected to the new ticketing system that keeps track of how many entries have been used.
It is not clear whether adding private museums to the free entry plan would also involve a request for government funding to replace ticket revenue.
The public museums and galleries already covered include 16 sites in Lisbon alone, including such big draws as the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. They are
- Jerónimos Monastery
- National Pantheon
- Ajuda National Palace
- Help Library
- Royal Treasury Museum
- National Costume Museum
- Royal Riding Ground
- Belém Tower
- National Theater and Dance Museum
- National Tile Museum
- Museum of Popular Art
- National Museum of Ancient Art
- National Museum of Archeology
- Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves House-Museum
- National Museum of Ethnology
- National Coach Museum
