Kentucky Museum News

The Kentucky Museum recently revised its Friends membership levels, with annual membership starting at $5 per year. In light of the pandemic and socioeconomic changes in the South-Central Kentucky region, membership levels are now more accessible to all in the community.

Called the "Friends," the Kentucky Museum's members are a community who love and support Kentucky's unique arts, history, and culture. Membership dues provide flexible funding to support the Museum's exhibits, programs, and events - all of which are donation and grant-funded. Memberships also provide materials and supplies for collections care and hands-on applied learning opportunities, which WKU students engage in as docents, interns, and graduate assistants. 

Friends build upon the legacy of the Kentucky Building, home to the Museum and Department of Library Special Collections, which was completed in 1928 through the fundraising efforts of Kentucky children and their families.

"Collecting dimes, they proved that even the smallest gift can make a difference - collectively raising over $50,000 (the equivalent of $750,000 in today's money)," stated Development and Marketing Director, Tiffany Isselhardt. "Our Friends build on that legacy - giving what they are able in order to provide our community with a safe space to engage with each other and their art, history, and culture in meaningful, educational ways. We are thrilled to revise our membership levels so that all who wish can participate in supporting our work."

Members also receive exclusive benefits dependent upon their level of giving. These include quarterly behind-the-scenes newsletters, sneak peeks at upcoming exhibits, discounts on workshops and camps, and unique opportunities to experience the Museum and get to know the Museum team. Last year, the Museum provided members with an evening Close Study Session of World War I and World War II collections, led by Registrar/Collections Curator Sandy Staebell and Department of Library Special Collections Department Head Jonathan Jeffrey. Members viewed artifacts and documents from the collection, discussing experiences of Kentuckians during the World Wars and gaining insights into how Close Study collections benefit WKU students.

While the Museum remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team continues to work on upcoming exhibits and programs as well as creating virtual experiences that are shared on its website. Membership remains open, with funds supporting the Museum's efforts to reopen with new, engaging exhibits and safe spaces for community dialogue and healing.

For more information on Friends levels or to make a gift, click here.

About Kentucky Museum

For over 80 years, the Kentucky Museum has celebrated all aspects of South-Central Kentucky’s art, history, and culture. “Kentuckians need to know Kentucky” was the museum’s earliest conceptual framework, which took shape in the eyes of WKU’s founding president Henry Hardin Cherry. Today, we are a steadfast educational campus partner helping to inspire innovation, elevate community, and transform the lives of our students and the community.