MET museum attendance surpasses 5m - 01/07/2010

The Metropolitan Museum of Art welcomed 5.24 million visitors through its doors during its 2010 fiscal year.

This is the first time that the art museum has welcomed more than five million patrons since 2001.

Thomas P Campbell, museum director, said in a statement: "The museum's attendance sends a signal about the enduring importance of culture and cultural institutions to the public, especially during this period of recession."

He added that one of the most popular art exhibitions in the past year has been Picasso in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has attracted 380,554 people since it opened on April 27th.

The exhibition runs until August 15th and showcases over 300 works by the contemporary artist.

It includes all the paintings, sculptures, drawings and ceramics by the artist in the museum's collection. This is the first time it has been displayed in its entirety.

Posted by Oliver Greaves