Image: New York's Met is taking part in the initiative

More than 1,600 attractions across the US will offer free admission to serving armed forces personnel and their families this summer through the Blue Star Museums (BSM) scheme.

BSM is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Department of Defense and Blue Star Families. It also includes Reserve and National Guard personnel.

This year's programme was unveiled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City - a participant in the BSM programme since it was first launched in 2010.

More than 300 venues are taking part for the first time this year, with participating museums spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and American Samoa.

NEA chair Rocco Landesman said: "Through BSM, the arts community is extending a special invitation to military families to enjoy more than 1,600 museums this summer.

"BSM offers an opportunity to enjoy one another and become more fully integrated into a community, especially for families with limited time together, those on a limited budget, and ones that have to relocate frequently."

Details: www.arts.gov (BSM announcement)

Details: www.nea.gov (Participating museums)

Image: SeanPavonePhoto/shutterstock.com