Workgroup 2 debate

1. Museums should be free.
Workgroup 2
Names: Elisavet Misori, Ivan Fernandez, Elena Eleftheriou,
Valentina Gačar, Vjeran Svečnjak, Samuel Silva

2. A: Affirmative Speech
Definition of the Topic: Mentioning museums, we mean an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and
display of objects of lasting interest or value. It's a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural
interest are stored and exhibited. They have a valuable role in preserving and transmitting a nation's history and
heritage to new generations
1st Argument supporting the topic: First and foremost, our argument is that museums promote greater understanding of
our own culture and also acceptance of foreign cultures. Free access will encourage more people to find out about their
country and help to promote feelings of national unity and identity, while promoting greater understanding and
acceptance of foreign cultures.
Example supporting the topic: For example, when visiting Porto it would be a great idea to visit Serralves Museum so as
to understand it and not have to pay to go there.
Result: As a consequence, if there was a charge, only the wealthy could afford to enjoy works of art and fewer people
would go to museums and less would have an understanding and acceptance of foreign cultures.
Conclusion: For this reason, we have to start thinking of the possibility for museums to be free of charged for the public.

3. B: Negative Speech
Rebuttal of the 1st Argument supporting the topic: I strongly disagree with your argument because you have to think
of how the museums would survive without a fee.
1st Argument against the topic : My first argument against this topic is that Governments do not have sufficient funds to
subsidize all such institutions and there are other priorities for public money. Therefore, the museums need to charge
their customers not only to survive but to update their exhibitions and make new purchases .
1st Example against the topic: For instance, by charging visitors
with a certain amount of feels , it educates them to appreciate the value of history and arts.
Result: Hence, with the fees there will be an income for the museum and therefore the museum will be able to maintain
Itself.
Conclusion: To conclude, with the fees there will be a better and cleaner museum.

4. C: Affirmative Speech
Rebuttal of the first argument against the topic: You have a point, but museums are public service and therefore there should
be free access to everyone.
2nd Argument supporting the topic: Our second argument is that museums can be a form of entertainment. When a museum
is free to enter, visitors are more likely to be willing to go to the same exhibition more than one and entertain themselves.
2nd Example supporting the topic: For instance, in Thessaloniki there is some day called 'Sunday in a museum' where families
are invited to spend one day in a museum.
Result: As a result, a lot more people will be able to go.
Conclusion: So, if museums will be free more people will want to go to entertain themselves

5. D: Negative Speech
Rebuttal of the 2st Argument supporting the topic: This might be partly true but, there wouldn’t be any museums if visitors
didn't have to pay any admission fee.
2nd Argument against the topic: My second argument against this topic, is that if the museums would be free, then people
might take them for granted and without fees the museums can't be preserved.
Who would work there? Who would protect the exhibits and the buildings?
Just think about all the things our ancestors left us, would you like to see them destroyed or stolen?
2nd Example against the topic: An example to support my argument is that people who work at the museums will not get
paid so the museums will not continue existing (no one would like to work without getting paid)
Result: In this way, there would be nothing left to pass through to out descendants.
Conclusion: Therefore, we shouldn’t even think about not charging fees for the visitors of the museums.