Confederation Centre Art Gallery now charging admission in peak months

The Confederation Centre Art Gallery in Charlottetown is charging admission during the tourism season for the first time, in what its director called a necessary change.

Up to now, admission has been by donation only. Most adults will now pay $15 for entrance, with seniors charged $10. Admission for students and kids under 18 will still be by donation. There is also a summer pass for $25.

The gallery had been collecting about $20,000 to $40,000 a year during the summer months under the previous policy, but director Kevin Rice said it is not enough.

Without the extra revenue, he said the gallery would need to reduce what it does due to rising costs.

"For instance, transportation costs are really high, and we value taking work from other parts of the country and featuring it here in Charlottetown.... So less of things like that would mean less interesting things on view."

Rice said the fees were finalized after staff looked at comparable facilities in the region. They'll reassess the fees after this tourism season.

He hopes to see about 12,000 visitors through the gallery's doors from now through October.

The admission fee is in place for those five months only, and admission by donation for everyone will be offered every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Admission is still free for the gallery's official summer opening, which includes "Erica Rutherford: Her Lives and Works" and is happening this Friday at 7 p.m.