Group sues Detroit Institute of Arts over admission fees

DETROIT (AP) - Five Macomb County residents have filed a lawsuit against the Detroit Institute of Arts over the museum's vow not to charge admission fees to area residents after voters approved a special millage in August.

Leaders of the cultural institution said at the time that the 10-year millage passed by voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties would provide financial stability and permit it to offer free admission to residents of the three counties.

The DIA is charging a fee for admission to its current "Faberge: The Rise and Fall" special exhibition.

The five plaintiffs filed suit in Macomb County Circuit Court, saying the museum violated its contractual promise to provide "unlimited, free museum admission."

DIA spokeswoman Pamela Marcil says museum officials hadn't yet seen the complaint Thursday.