New York's Metropolitan Opera will give away thousands of tickets to open the prestigious cultural institution up to people who could not otherwise afford it, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Thursday.
The "Opera for All" initiative will see the Met distribute 70,000 tickets each season via a lottery system for New Yorkers as part of a partnership with the city council.
Typically, around a third of Met Opera tickets cost less than $100, according to the venue, but prices can soar for seating close to the stage.
"Opera is one of the greatest art forms we have, and there is no better place to experience it than the Metropolitan Opera House," said Mamdani, who campaigned on cost of living pledges.
"But art should not be reserved for those who can afford it," he added in a statement.
"Every New Yorker should have the opportunity to sit in these seats, hear these voices and experience this stage, no matter what's in their bank account."
The Met Opera, based at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan, is one of the world's most prominent opera houses - now running performances of "Macbeth" and "La Boheme."
"The Met is not just a globally recognized cultural icon; it is also New York's opera house, an essential institution that truly belongs to the city's residents," the institution said on its website.
The free tickets will be available in every section of the Met Opera, excluding standing room.
Mamdani has also this year announced free or discounted tickets initiatives for Broadway shows, as well as the US Open and the World Cup. -AFP
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