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New survey shows 1 in 10 Americans have never been to a museum

Devon Rademacher
Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum

Thursday was National Museum Day.

A new survey conducted by a design and production agency shows one in ten Americans have never been to a one.

Museum curators say that’s disappointing.

Saginaw Valley State University’s campus is home to the Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum - which honors the late Detroit artist.

 

Melissa Ford is an archivist and curator at the museum.

She said she was shocked that one in ten Americans have never been to a museum.

 

“A lot of times they’re the only place that people can get culture in their community, they play an important role in educating people, bridging divide between people.”

 

The survey of a thousand Americans conducted by the Thinkwell Group, also shows men and women have different tastes in museums. Women are more likely to visit an aquarium, while men say their favorite museum is historical.

 

 

Credit Devon Rademacher
A sculpture of a gazelle in front of Christ on the Cross

 

“There’s something for everyone at a museum, from aquariums to zoos, to science museums, there’s something you can learn by going to a museum, you can expand your mind," said Ford.

 

The Marshall Fredericks Museum’s latest exhibitopening next week, will feature works of SVSU professors and students.