Appalachian Power Foundation Continues More Than a Decade of Support for Free General Admission

For more than a decade, one simple promise has greeted visitors to the Taubman Museum of Art: Free General Admission — Always.

Thanks to the continued generosity of the Appalachian Power Foundation, that promise will continue in the coming year, ensuring that everyone, from local families and students to first-time visitors and travelers discovering Virginia’s Blue Ridge, can walk through the Taubman Museum’s doors and experience art without cost being a barrier.

The Appalachian Power Foundation has helped support free general admission at the Taubman for more than a decade, making the arts accessible to tens of thousands of visitors each year and helping the Museum fulfill its mission of bringing people and art together for discovery, learning, and enjoyment.

“Free admission is so much more than the absence of a ticket price,” said Cindy Petersen, Executive Director of the Taubman Museum of Art. “It means a family can stop in for an hour without worrying whether they’ve gotten their money’s worth. It means a young person can come back again and again. It means someone who has never thought of an art museum as a place for them can simply walk through our doors and discover that it is. The Appalachian Power Foundation has helped make that possible for more than a decade, and we are tremendously grateful for their continued investment in our community.”

The impact of that commitment extends well beyond admission to the galleries. The Taubman serves as a community gathering place, offering a changing schedule of exhibitions, family experiences, educational opportunities, cultural celebrations and community programs. The Museum’s Permanent Collection includes more than 2,600 works, while the Museum debuts 10 to 15 new exhibitions annually.

“Supporting the communities we serve means creating opportunities that improve the lives of our customers and their families,” said Amanda Cox, vice president of external affairs for Appalachian Power. “We are longstanding members of these communities, and our employees live, work and raise their families here. Through our partnership with the Taubman, we are helping ensure our customers and neighbors can experience the arts, learn together, and enjoy all that our communities have to offer.”

This longstanding partnership has helped distinguish the Taubman nationally for its commitment to accessibility. In 2025, Newsweek named the Taubman the #3 Best Free Museum in the United States and #1 in Virginia in its Readers’ Choice Awards. Nominees were selected by Newsweek panelists and contributors, with the final rankings determined by public voting.

“Being recognized nationally as one of America’s best free museums was especially meaningful because ‘free’ is such an important part of that recognition,” Petersen added. “Our community has access to extraordinary art and experiences without an admission barrier because partners such as APCo and the Appalachian Power Foundation believe, as we do, that art should be accessible to everyone.”

About the Appalachian Power Foundation

The Appalachian Power Foundation awards charitable grants within communities served by Appalachian Power Company (APCo), an operating subsidiary of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), supporting housing, education, access to essential services, resilience and recovery, and thriving communities. The Appalachian Power Foundation, along with the rest of the American Electric Power Foundation, is funded by AEP and its operating subsidiaries solely through shareholder dollars.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:

George Porter
Director of Communications
Appalachian Power Foundation
[email protected]
540.985.2968

Sunny Nelson
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Taubman Museum of Art
[email protected]