Free Admission Campaign Calls on Mayor Mamdani to Secure Free Access to 17 NYC Cultural Institutions

Organizations representing millions of New Yorkers sign letter urging action on cultural affordability

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Free Admission Campaign sent a letter to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his administration, urging him to codify free admission for New Yorkers at 17 major cultural institutions including The Met, Brooklyn Museum, American Museum of Natural History and Bronx Zoo.

The letter signers include the Community Service Society of New York, Grand Street Settlement, NYC Community Board 11, The Workers Circle and Alliance for Quality Education. Together, the signatories represent constituencies that collectively reach millions of New Yorkers. The campaign has also collected more than 800 signatures through a public petition.

The campaign calls on the city to uphold pre-existing laws and agreements guaranteeing free admission in exchange for the institutions' rent-free use of public parkland and city-owned buildings. It also raises consumer protection concerns over misleading admissions signage and confusing pay-what-you-wish policies that leave New Yorkers unaware of their rights.

"Most New Yorkers are totally unaware that they subsidize an estimated $700 million each year because these institutions are allowed to operate on public parkland and in city-owned buildings rent free," said Pat Nicholson, founder of the Free Admission Campaign. "Even fewer know the story behind how these institutions were created, to function as a 'park education campus' that bolstered the public education system, encouraging New Yorkers to experience the benefits of seamless, free access to art, culture, history, science and nature."

Nicholson noted that these institutions were intended as park amenities for New Yorkers and that they have since neglected their founding obligations to provide free access.

"At a time when New Yorkers are struggling with the rising cost of living, access to our city's world-class cultural institutions should not depend on someone's ability to pay. The Community Service Society is proud to stand with the Free Admission Campaign in calling on Mayor Mamdani to uphold these institutions' founding commitments," said David R. Jones, President and CEO, Community Service Society of New York.

"At Community League of the Heights, we see firsthand how access to cultural and educational experiences enriches the lives of children and families. By honoring existing free admission agreements, our city can help ensure these opportunities reach the communities that stand to benefit from them most," said Yvonne Stennett, executive director, Community League of the Heights (CLOTH).

Read the full letter here.

About Free Admission

Free Admission is a campaign to ensure New Yorkers receive legislated and contractual consideration from the museums, zoos, gardens, science and performing art centers and aquarium they subsidize. The campaign was launched in 2012 after Founder Pat Nicholson discovered that The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and subsequently 16 other institutions, had founding legislation, laws and contracts requiring free admission for New Yorkers in exchange for rent-free use of parkland and city owned buildings. Follow Free Admission on Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE The Free Admission Campaign