Connecticut: Summer at the Museum

Research indicates that museums provide ideal spaces for exploration, immersive learning and critical thinking for children. They also offer opportunities for social, cognitive and emotional development. To provide children and families with engaging summer enrichment and learning experiences in 2019 during the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program. The program allowed Connecticut children to receive free admission at more than 90 museums across the state during the 2021 summer months.

The Connecticut Office of the Arts has partnered with Connecticut Humanities again to offer the 2022 Connecticut Summer at the Museum initiative. The program invites Connecticut children ages 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult to visit participating museums free of charge from July 1 through September 5, 2022. 136 Connecticut museums across the state will be participating in the 2022 initiative. In addition to the grant award to facilitate free admission, participating museums will be supported with an advertising campaign lead by the Office of Tourism.

The funding for this program was made possible through a $15 million investment of American Rescue Plan Act funds by the Connecticut General Assembly, with the support of Connecticut Humanities and the Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts. Other state partners include the Office of the Governor, Connecticut State Department of Education, and Office of Early Childhood. For more information, contact Connecticut Office of the Arts Director of Arts, Preservation and Museums Elizabeth Shapiro.