Metropolitan Museum Breaks Attendance Record with 7 Million Visitors

In spite of all the threats from the current administration to gut what little federal funding the arts receive, people are seeking out art more than ever. The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced in a press release Tuesday that they had set a new record for annual attendance with 7 million visitors to its three New York locations: The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Cloisters, and The Met Breuer. This year's numbers surpass last year's record-breaking 6.7 million guests, and show no signs of slowing down. Attendance has risen consistently since 2012, when the museum first exceeded 6 million annual guests.

The numbers reflect the institution's fiscal year, which ended on June 30. Out of those visiting the Met, 37% were international guests, while 30% were native New Yorkers. In a statement, the museum attributes much of the attendance spike to the newish Met Breuer, which opened in the former Whitney Museum building last spring. The Breuer hosted 505,590 visitors this year, half of whom attended the location's inaugural show of unfinished artworks.

Via Hyperallergic

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