Cr Andrew Whiley's comments came during a debate about whether the council should charge international visitors a $20 entrance fee for the Dunedin Public Art Gallery (DPAG) and Toitū Otago Settlers' Museum.
Councillors were split 10-4 about whether to promote the idea, but it will be included as a topic for discussion in the council's draft nine-year plan.
Cr Whiley put forward the motion.
"The key thing is that right now these institutions are funded by our ratepayers.
"Our institutions come to us wanting more funds, but our budgets are not infinite."
Cr Whiley said introducing international fees would simply be following best practice.
"Why should we give away our history for free? There's a cost to presenting it."
Crs Brent Weatherall, Lee Vandervis, Marie Laufiso and David Benson-Pope voted against.
Cr Vandervis said galleries and museums were important public spaces.
"If you want to start charging, it will no longer feel like a public space.
"The idea of turning a public space into a business is a vast change."
Cr Vandervis said instead of charging international visitors at the door, the museums and galleries should look at developing more special exhibitions.
"Hitting up foreigners will encourage division . . . I will feel less welcome in a place where I have to get sized up."
Mayor Jules Radich asked council staff how charging international visitors could be implemented.
Council arts, culture and recreation general manager Jeanette Wikaira mentioned Te Papa's example, where visitors were asked at the entrance.
It was a "low key approach", which had generated an extra $750,000 in revenue in the first two months of its implementation.
"They put a lot of thought into keeping it simple."
Ms Wikaira's report to councillors said introducing the $20 international fee could generate an estimated operating surplus of $411,000 for the two institutions.
Mr Radich said he would be amenable to a "relaxed charge that wouldn't cost us any extra to operate".
Cr Carmen Houlahan said any international charge should be done on a trial basis only.
She was worried about DPAG's donations being affected by the charge.
