DOZENS of protesters have been given free entry to York Art Gallery - in a bid to protect 'public safety.'

Police were called to the gallery at noon as campaigners, angry at the York Museum Trust's decision to charge residents £7.50 for admission, descended en masse on the ticket desks, showing their York Cards and demanding free admission. Somewhat to their surprise, they were immediately handed free tickets.

Trust chief executive Janet Barnes said she made an instant decision to allow them access. "It's a matter of public safety," she said, adding that she was also concerned about the exhibits.

The development came after protesters had staged a light-hearted demonstration against charges outside the gallery, after it had re-opened at 10am following an £8 million redevelopment. Artists also created a "York Free Art Gallery' in Exhibition Square in front of the gallery.

They distributed leaflets claiming: "Tomorrow's artists need access to inspiring art today. By charging for gallery entry, are we hindering those with poorer backgrounds from becoming tomorrow's artists?"

The artists, backed by York People's Assembly, said the charging decision had been linked to a 60 per cent cut in council funding, which they said was part of a wider trend towards privatising, commercialising and defunding, which meant only the well-off could afford access to the arts.

Green York councillor Andy D'Agorne had earlier urged people to show proof of York residency and demand their right to free entry to the gallery, when it re-opened this morning following an £8 million re-development.

He also said that if people did decide to pay the £7.50 admission fee, they should ask for a signed receipt and keep this for any legal claim against the trust if the charge was subsequently ruled to be illegal.

"The Trust is required to provide free access to the gallery for York residents as a condition of their lease from City of York Council," he claimed.

"On Wednesday, Executive member for Leisure and Culture Nigel Ayre decided that a decision to revoke this condition should be deferred until September. That means that all residents of the City of York remain entitled to free entry to the Art Gallery and Castle Museum until that meeting makes a decision. 

"Proof of your York address should be all that is required to gain free entry today.

"Access to our local art collection should be a right for all local taxpayers and the Trust was set up to be custodians, not to ignore legal contracts with the elected representatives of the city."

The trust responded by saying: “Given the huge ongoing cuts in the City of York Council’s funding to York Museums Trust the support of residents is vital for the future of the city’s museums.

"We hope that the vast majority will see the importance of this and take advantage of the half price YMT Card which is available to all York Card holders.”  

The trust revealed yesterday that residents would still be charged, despite council clains that entry fees could not be introduced without its permission under the terms of the lease..

Charlie Croft, assistant director of culture at the council, said in a report to councillors on Wednesday that the trust had approached the council "seeking permission" to introduce a new scheme of entry charges to the museums and art gallery for YorkCard holders.

"They need the council’s permission to do this, in respect of the Art Gallery and Castle Museum, because the leases for those buildings require them to give free entry to York residents for everything other than special exhibitions, except where the council gives them written permission to do otherwise."

A Trust spokesman insisted yesterday that it was working within the terms of the lease.

He said it had suffered a 60 per cent cut in funding from the council, taking it from £1.5 million in 2013 to £600,000 this year.

"We have recently learnt that City of York Council funding to York Museums Trust is likely be even further reduced to £300,000 next year. If this happens York Museums Trust will have suffered an 80 per cent cut in our year-on-year funding.

"As a registered charity our first obligation is to care for the collections, the 18 buildings and the Museum Gardens that we maintain on behalf of the public. We were already struggling to cope with the existing £900,000 gap in our funding."

A council spokeswoman said a report would be brought back to executive in September, which woud cover any legal questions, issues or implications arising from the trust's decision to introduce charges.