WKU News

The Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University has received a grant from the Kentucky Local History Trust Fund for $1,740 to create a new exhibit titled “Out of the Box,” which will bring the Museum’s artifacts into classrooms at WKU. Focused on fostering community discussions and projects related to our heritage and future, the pilot “Out of the Box” exhibit project will be a collaborative model of research, interpretation and public service that will encourage faculty to incorporate the Kentucky Museum into their curricula.

The Kentucky Local History Trust Fund, administered by the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS), supports local history organizations’ efforts to preserve and tell Kentucky’s stories. The Kentucky Local History Trust Fund is funded by Kentuckians who choose to donate from their state income tax refunds when they file their tax returns. This is the third year for the grant pool.

“We are honored and grateful that the Kentucky Museum, now in its 80th year, has received this 2018 Kentucky Local History Trust Fund grant to take our innovative exhibit work to new heights,” said Brent Bjorkman, Director of the Kentucky Museum. “This funding will further assist us in working with a number of our faculty colleague partners to integrate this special look at artifacts in our collection into classroom content throughout the next academic year. With this grant, supported by state taxpayers who choose to do so, we are able to continue our engaging work as a cornerstone for WKU’s aim to be the best student-centered applied research university we can be.”

The Kentucky Museum was one of six organizations to receive funding in this grant cycle. The grant was announced at an event on Jan. 8, 2019 in Frankfort, Ky.

“History can be a window into innovation of the past and a tool for innovation today,” Scott Alvey, Kentucky Historical Society Executive Director, said at the event. “KHS is proud to play a small part of that innovation through administering the Local History Trust Fund. We look forward to all the new discoveries these funds will allow.”

“Local history-minded organizations like the ones honored today help connect Kentuckians and visitors to their past in meaningful and impactful ways,” said Regina Stivers, Deputy Secretary of the Tourism Arts and Heritage Cabinet. “We are pleased to announce these grants to aid these organizations as they continue to showcase the best the Commonwealth has to offer.”

Additional information on the Kentucky Local History Trust Fund can be found at https://history.ky.gov/get-involved/support-local-history/.

For more information, contact Brent Bjorkman at (270) 745-6261.