SHENZHEN will include more private museums in its subsidy program and raise the subsidy standards for private museums, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday, quoting sources from the city’s culture, sports and tourism bureau.

The bureau is working on the new program that will expand the subsidy program to benefit more museums and will offer additional subsidies for interim exhibitions and activities, besides subsidies for admission tickets.

Private museums in Shenzhen are facing shortages of funds, despite the government offering up to 500,000 yuan (US$74,450) a year as subsidies for admission tickets. However, the subsidy is far from enough to fund a regular-sized private museum, which entails paying rent, collecting exhibits, restoring and maintaining relics, not to mention paying the employees. Some private museums have even closed due to shortages of funds.

Started in 2012, the subsidies are calculated on the basis of the number of visitors, expense of rent, electricity and water bills and property management fees. The city has offered 14 million yuan in subsidies so far.

(Han Ximin)