Mission

The mission of the lucille ball desi arnaz museum, a non-profit educational institution, is to celebrate the inspiring lives and enduring legacies of pioneering artists, innovators, and leaders lucille ball and desi arnaz, whose contributions have shaped our shared cultural heritage and charted a course for american entertainment history. the museum, located in ball's hometown of jamestown, ny, has been a community anchor and engine for the development of the comedic arts for over 25 years.in 2018, the lucy desi museum's mission was broadened with the opening of the nearby national comedy center, which operates in fulfillment of lucille ball's vision that her hometown become a destination for the celebration of comedy --in all its forms. visitors to jamestown, ny are inspired, educated, and entertained by both of these attractions, as well as the annual lucille ball comedy festival, which presents educational programming and performances by rising artists and comedy legends alike.