On October 20, 2011, Gov. Steven L. Beshear and the Kentucky Arts Council celebrated the 2011 Governor's Awards in the Arts in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. The Governor's Awards in the Arts are the Commonwealth's highest honor in the arts, recognizing individuals, organizations and businesses that have made extraordinary and significant contributions to the arts in Kentucky.

The National Quilt Museum was awarded the Community Arts Award which is awarded to a Kentucky individual or organization that has made a positive impact on the community through the arts.

The National Quilt Museum is the anchor for this arts-rich community where four rivers meet. Officially designated by the U.S. Congress as The National Quilt Museum of the United States, it is the largest quilt museum in the world. Visitors are astounded by the beauty and technical excellence of the quilts on exhibit and take away a new appreciation of quilting as an art form and quilters as artists.

The museum is the largest tourist attraction in Paducah and the second largest art museum in the state. In an average year people visit the museum from all 50 states and over 40 foreign countries, adding millions of dollars to the Western Kentucky economy. Within the quilting community, the museum is a mecca for quilters. It is also committed to the preservation and advancement of quilting and fiber art, spearheading a number of advocacy efforts.

What often gets overlooked when the national limelight shines on the museum are its many community outreach programs, which provide educational and arts experiences for participants of all ages. For example, The National Quilt Museum partners with MODA fabrics each year to present the School Block Challenge, an annual contest for children with cash prizes. Each summer, children find an outlet for their creative energy and learn about quilting at the museum's Quilt Camp for Kids. The museum sponsors and hosts Kid's Day in the Arts once a year, allowing children to participate in a wide range of arts activities from instrument petting zoos to puppet shows and, of course, quilting related activities. And museum volunteers help Girl Scouts make quilts to donate to new babies at the local hospitals.

Adult workshops are also conducted throughout the year, with classes from beginning to advanced techniques in quilt making offering course credit through West Kentucky Community and Technical College.

As one of the National Quilt Museum's visitors wrote in its comment book, "The museum is a world treasure." While that is true, it is also an invaluable community treasure for the residents of Western Kentucky.

Click here for the introductory video created for the event.