Mexican museums receive fewer resources from municipalities

MEXICO CITY (apro).- In 2024, the participation of municipalities in the financing of the country's museums registered a decrease, which could imply a lower local budget priority for cultural preservation.

According to the 2024 Museum Statistics (EM) from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 71.1% of museums operated with public resources, a proportion slightly lower than the 71.7% reported in 2023.

However, the breakdown by level of government shows the adjustment.

While in 2023, 40.0% of museums were supported by municipal funds, in 2024 this percentage dropped to 39.3%.

In contrast, state resources increased slightly from 34.2% to 34.6%, and federal resources from 25.8% to 26.1%.

This reconfiguration of funding sources did not prevent an upturn in attendance.

In 2024, the country's museums welcomed 51.5 million visitors, an increase of 3.1 million over the previous year.

Free access was also maintained as an access strategy.

In 2024, 59.4% of museums that provided information offered free admission, slightly up from 59.0% in 2023.

On the other hand, 21.8% received an entrance fee, lower than the 22.9% from the previous year.

While in 2024, 18.8% applied free service only on certain days, also higher than the 18.1% recorded in 2023.

In terms of infrastructure, marginal but significant improvements were also observed.

In 2024, 34.9% of museums reported having adequate infrastructure for people with disabilities, up from 34.6% in 2023.

Wi-Fi service was also available in 33.1% of venues, an increase from 31.9% the previous year.