Met Museum sets new attendance record

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Jul 5, 2018

The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced on Thursday that it set a new attendance record with the highest fiscal year attendance recorded in the Met's history. 

 
The museum welcomed more than 7.35 million visitors to its three locations – The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Cloisters, and The Met Breuer – in the fiscal year that ended on June 30 (FY18). This was compared to 7 million last year.
 
The museum said that the attendance was largely due to the record-breaking attendance for Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman and Designer, which was on view from November 13, 2017 through February 12, 2018 and brought in 702,516 visitors.

In announcing the attendance numbers on Thursday, the museum also said that it brought in over $250 million in philanthropic gifts, Membership contributions, and government support, the highest amount in recent years, which included $80 million from Trustee Florence Irving and her late husband, Herbert Irving.
 
"The Met prides itself on serving the public through our collection, exhibitions, and education programs—all of which meet the highest possible standards," said Daniel H. Weiss, President and CEO of the Museum, in a news statement.  "Importantly, we're gratified to recognize that these offerings not only resonate with our visitors but also inspire extraordinary support."
 
The Museum also continues to be New York City's most visited tourist attraction for domestic and international audiences. In FY18, international visitors accounted for 34 percent of the Museum's attendees, while 32 percent of the Museum's visitors came from the five boroughs of New York City.