Moreover, the left-wing candidate argued that there should be differentiated pricing throughout the week for residents of Porto and national citizens.
At the entrance of Serralves, on a day when entry to the space is free, leading to a large influx of people, Sérgio Aires stated that this museum is the most expensive in Porto.
He further noted that it is priced above all private museums in the city.
Aires claimed that there are museums in Paris that do not charge Serralves’ prices, and if they do, it is for tourists, not nationals.
“It makes no sense to charge the current fees, notably 20 euros for an entrance to the Serralves Museum, a cost that rises to 80 euros for four people, which is unaffordable given the current minimum and average salaries,” he said.
The councilor without a portfolio in the municipal executive argued that it is a matter of fairness and common sense because, with current pricing, nobody can visit the museum.
This is why, on Sundays when entry is free, there is a massive crowd, which is not good for anyone, neither for the people nor for the museum, as it results in significant confusion inside, he opined.
“If we want people to truly access culture in the city, we must facilitate their access,” he asserted.
Sérgio Aires pointed out that there are thousands of museums worldwide offering free entry on weekends and holidays and then, during the week, different prices for local and national residents.
In his opinion, Serralves should follow these examples because it is “an entity clearly much more public than private.”
Competing in the Porto municipal elections are Manuel Pizarro (PS), Diana Ferreira (CDU – PCP/PEV coalition), Nuno Cardoso (Porto Primeiro – NC/PPM coalition), Pedro Duarte (PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition), Sérgio Aires (BE), current vice-president Filipe Araújo (Fazer à Porto – independent), Guilherme Alexandre Jorge (Volt), Hélder Sousa (Livre), Miguel Corte-Real (Chega), Frederico Duarte Carvalho (ADN), Maria Amélia Costa (PTP), and Luís Tinoco Azevedo (PLS).
The current executive is composed of a majority of six elected members from Rui Moreira’s movement and an independent councilor, with the remaining two officials from the PS, two from the PSD, one from the CDU, and one from the BE.
The municipal elections will be held on the 12th.
