A dearth of investment in public-funded institutions aimed in part at tourists is leading some to consider actions which might have the culture purists spluttering into their lattes.
CultureLabel is a shopping service - launched in July 2009 - normally attuned to selling high-end gifts and retail items of the fashion, home living and entertainment variety.
But the company is attempting to meet the travel industry head-on with a new initiative to target tourists with ancillary sales coupled with online bookings for museums.
Launching in the UK in early-2010 with full booking, content and sales facilities on mobile for a number of major venues in the Us, including the Museum of London, CultureLabel says it has plans for up to 100 facilities to be included in the system.
Those behind the new system say museums and galleries are keen to sell their goods (such as prints, books, etc) almost as much as getting tourists through the door, such is the pressure on many venues to make ends meet.
The CultureLabel system is hoping to provide the link between those eager to see fine art and other cultural establishments with those keen to take home a souvenir or experience a venue in a different way.
The iPhone app for the Museum of London, produced by Elastik Mobile, includes gallery guides, art reproductions and other content from the venue.
The ticketing system works either by installing a payment barcode on any smartphone or by sending an airline-style e-ticket to the buyer's email for printing.
A CultureLabel official says:
"We have been approached by museums and galleries in France, Holland, USA, Germany and China, so we are progressing conversations with institutions from those countries about CultureLabel retail platform."