With parliamentary approval and as part of the directives of the Sixth Five-Year Development Plan (2016-2021), Tehran's four major museum complexes will collect 100% of their revenues following efforts by Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.
Niavaran, Sa'adabad and Golestan palace complexes and the National Museum of Iran will now receive their whole earnings without offering a percentage to the government's funds as before. According to Mohammad Reza Kargar, director for museum affairs at ICHHTO, plans are underway to adopt the same regulation for all museums nationwide.
"To have other museums gain their own revenues in full, a board of trustees should be formed with an account to which the earnings can be deposited," he said, ISNA reported.
Formerly, the earnings of museums used to be added to the state revenues and an amount of between 60% and 70% were eventually paid back to them.
Now, according to Kargar, the Management and Planning Organization is tasked to return the whole amount back to ICHHTO, which will later distribute it among museums.
The topic was raised around two months ago by Ali Asghar Mounesan, the ICHHTO chief, who said he has managed to open a specific account for museum earnings so that their income will not be transferred to the government’s coffers.
"As a matter of course, all revenues must first be deposited to the treasury to ensure proper official oversight, but the specific account will enable the return of the whole deposited amount to museums," he had earlier said.
“This will encourage museums to boost their income and will allow them to spend more for development and promotion.”
"Louvre in Tehran" Proceeds
“Louvre in Tehran”, the outstanding cultural event that is currently underway in the National Museum of Iran, will also abide by the new regulations.
According to Kargar, although sponsored by the private Iranian bank Ayandeh, the revenue will be completely paid back to the museum for the financial sponsor does not seek a share of the income. This is especially important as the scheme to restore the National Museum's restoration after eight decades is to get off the ground this year.
"In fact, plus the exhibition revenue, an additional budget should be allotted to the NMI for the purpose,” the official said, hoping that another sponsor will volunteer to support the scheme.
Louvre officials have agreed to extend the contract by two months so the items can be displayed in the Great Museum of Khorasan, in Khorasan Razavi Province.
Kargar vaguely implied that Khorasan Museum's revenue will be allocated to the National Museum of Iran for its grand restoration project.
