Met Museum, NYC amend lease over admission fees

[October 25, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The Metropolitan Museum of Art says it has signed an amendment to its lease with New York City that confirms the museum can set its own admission fees.

The amendment comes as the museum faces lawsuits filed earlier this year that accuse the Met of fooling visitors into thinking they have to pay.

The museum says a policy requiring visitors to pay at least something has been around for four decades, and the amendment codifies it in the lease and also gives the museum the ability to consider any other price modifications it might need in the future.

A lawyer for the museum visitors who sued said Thursday the change is actually an admission that the museum didn't have the authority to charge fees over those years.

[Associated Press; By DEEPTI HAJELA]

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