The biggest issue with the arts is accessibility — not just who it’s for but what it costs.
Too often, I hear that price is what keeps people from seeing their first play, opera, or whatever it may be.
But if it only cost $8, would you go see a play with me?
That’s the average amount that patrons shell out during Detroit Public Theatre’s “Pick Your Price” performances. You could go as low as $5 or pay more than the average ticket cost of just over $50 if you’re feeling generous. The point is that it’s up to you.
There are two of these performances during each show run at the theater’s Cass Corridor digs, not far from acclaimed restaurant Selden Standard. The homegrown theater company is confident you’ll come back after you get a taste at a discounted rate.
Consider it a gateway drug to get you hooked on the arts.
Next month, Detroit Public Theatre kicks off its fall season with Here There Are Blueberries, about a mysterious album of World War II-era photos finding its way to a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist. One reviewer dubbed it “the greatest detective story ever written,” and you can set your price to see it.
I’m a big fan of the myriad efforts Detroit Public Theatre is making to put butts in seats, and thankfully, it’s far from the only cultural institution getting inventive with how to get people inside. The Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and Detroit Opera all have free entry or affordable pricing for certain residents (check their websites for details). And many of our local museums (including the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village) participate in a national program called Museums for All, where those enrolled in SNAP EBT and/or WIC programs can get free or discounted admission for themselves and up to three guests.
And sometimes, it is as simple as “make it free for everyone.”
This September, the Detroit Month of Design will embrace that idea with its wide-ranging month-long, citywide celebration of the arts and design, including the (free) marquee event Eastern Market After Dark on Sept. 18. This is a perfect encapsulation of literally opening the doors of studios and spaces to the public.
“Free” is also what made me fall in love with Thursdays at the Cranbrook Art Museum, when there’s no admission fee and it’s open till 8 p.m. Extended hours and free admission are wonderful tools to meet patrons where they’re at.
On Nov. 2, Cranbrook will welcome two new exhibits. The first is Mythic Chaos: 50 Years of Destroy All Monsters, an exhibition focused on the Michigan anti-rock band and artist collective. I’m also excited for Haas Brothers: Uncanny Valley, which brings the first midcareer survey of artists (and twin brothers!) Nikolai and Simon Haas, who create these insane worlds full of characters that I can only describe as the rowdy, psychedelic freak cousins of the Muppets.
Let’s applaud local cultural institutions that have adopted the idea of offering a taste at a reduced price in hopes of getting you hooked — the healthiest gateway drug you’ll ever indulge in.
With so many cultural institutions getting clever with making their facilities more budget-friendly, I can’t keep track of them all. Are you part of one of these institutions? What are you doing and why? Send me a note at hooper@wdet.org.
Ryan Patrick Hooper is the host of In the Groove on 101.9 WDET, Detroit Public Radio (weekdays from noon to 3 p.m.).
This story originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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