Free entry at Jersey Museum is to end in July after the government withdrew funding for the scheme – despite visitor numbers more than doubling during the first year of the trial.
Jersey Heritage said the government was unable to continue supporting the initiative due to “well-publicised funding pressures”.
The charity added that it was unable to continue funding the scheme independently, with admission charges to be reintroduced from 1 July 2026.
Jersey Heritage board chair Amy Hall said the free-entry trial had been a major success in widening access to the island’s history.
“The number of people who took advantage of the opportunity to visit the museum free of charge more than doubled during the first year of the trial, with significant increases to local seniors and children,” she said.
The government-initiated trial scheme was introduced in July 2024 as part of Jersey’s Heritage Strategy, which aims to improve public access to heritage sites.
Visitor figures released by Jersey Heritage showed attendance at Jersey Museum rose from 20,822 in the year before free admission was introduced to 41,075 during the first year of the initiative.
Survey results also recorded a 177% increase in local seniors attending the museum and a 60% rise in children visiting.
Ms Hall said Jersey Heritage had hoped the trial would become permanent.
“In light of the changes to visitor numbers, we regard the trial as a big success and had hoped it would become a permanent fixture at Jersey Museum,” she said.
“However, due to well-publicised funding pressures, the Department of Economy can no longer support free entry.
“Unfortunately, our charity cannot afford to continue to fund it independently.”
Entry will remain free for Jersey Heritage members and children under six.
