Thirteen Kentucky museums will offer free admission to active military members and their families this summer as part of the Blue Star Museums initiative.
A collaboration of the Department of Defense, the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and thousands of museums nationwide, the Blue Star Museum program was started five years ago as a military appreciation effort aimed at connecting military families to cultural resources in communities where they've moved or are based.
"The Blue Star Museum initiative is a special way for Kentucky military personnel to spend time with their friends or family in a unique setting," said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director. "The growing list of participating museums provides a chance for visitors to explore not only fine art but also music, science and local history in the Commonwealth."
Currently, participating Blue Star Museums in Kentucky are:
Kentucky Museum, Bowling Green
Eloise B. Houchens Center, Bowling Green
Historic RailPark & Train Museum, Bowling Green
Behringer-Crawford Museum, Covington
Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Lexington
Frazier History Museum, Louisville
Historic Locust Grove, Louisville
Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville
Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, Maysville
International Bluegrass Music Museum, Owensboro
Owensboro Museum of Science and History, Owensboro
Hopewell Museum, Paris
East Kentucky Science Center, Prestonsburg
The official window for free admission at Blue Star Museums runs from through Labor Day, Sept. 1. Museums that wish to participate in Blue Star Museums may contact bluestarmuseums@arts.gov, or Wendy Clark at (202) 682-5451. For questions regarding a specific museum's policy, visitors should contact the museum directly.
Blue Star Families is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, with a mission to support, connect and empower military families.
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies and the philanthropic sector.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.
