It's always a good thing to expand your mind, and museums are a great place to start. Don't forget about the First Friday and Third Thursday open house/gallery walks in the Downtown Arts District — it doesn't cost a penny to peruse the art.

What's free at the Honolulu Academy of Arts?

• Admission is free each first Wednesday of the month.

• The Bank of Hawaii Free Sunday is happening from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Sunday, with the theme "Orange You Happy to See Me?" There's a Mask-O-Lantern Contest, the ongoing paper mural project that will now add the color orange, and live mural painting by up-and-coming GroundUp artists. And all the galleries are open for viewing.

• Mark your calendars for a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24. It's a New Music Festival, with the Maui-based Ebb & Flow Ensemble performing works by the Danish composer Per Nørgard, who created a piece called "Out of the Cradle, Endlessly Rocking" for Ebb & Flow.

• International films are being screened free for high school students Dec. 1-2 at the Doris Duke Theatre.

Registration is required by Nov. 10: Teachers can download the form at www.honoluluacademy.org, fill in and mail to Education Department, 900 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96814; fax, 808-532-8763. Call 532-8726 for information.

The films: "The Kite," Lebanon, 9:30 a.m. Dec. 1; and "Let the Wind Blow," India, 9:30 a.m. Dec. 2.

532-8700, www.honoluluacademy.org.

Admission to the Hawai'i State Art Museum always is free. The museum's current exhibits are "Accession: Recent Acquisitions From the Art in Public Places Collection," through July 19; "Intertwine: A Selection of Hawai'i Fiber Art," through Jan. 17; "He Alo A He Alo — Face to Face, Visions and Portraits" and the photo exhibit "Palolo Kids and Friends" (no ending dates for the last two).

The museum also hosts the family-friendly, interactive Second Saturday events, which include arts demonstrations and make-and-take activities.

Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. It's at 250 S. Hotel St., on the corner of Hotel and Richards streets, second floor. 586-0900, www.hawaii.gov/sfca.

The Contemporary Museum is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and that means free admission through the month.

On its actual anniversary, Oct. 22, the museum is going all out with free cupcakes and tours of the historic home, gardens and exhibitions. Among its special exhibits is the BenchMark Project, a community venture in which a number of Island artists created garden benches that had been placed around O'ahu. The benches are now at the museum through Oct. 26; the public can bid on or buy the benches outright (www.friendsoftcm.org/benchmark).

Also as part of the 20th anniversary celebration, the museum is offering free admission to all twentysomethings (age 20-29) through September. And third Thursdays of the month are always free, too.

Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. The address: 2411 Makiki Heights Drive. 526-1322, www.tcmhi.org. Note: The museum closes at 2 p.m. this Saturday because of a special benefit event.

Admission to The Contemporary Museum at First Hawaiian Center, 999 Bishop St., is always free, too. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. to

4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays.

Out Hale'iwa way, the North Shore Surf and Cultural Museum at the North Shore Marketplace features surfboards, photos, videos and more. Admission is free. Its hours are 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays to Mondays. 637-8888.

Admission to the U.S Army Museum of Hawai'i is always free, although donations are welcome. Among the attractions is the Gen. Eric K. Shinseki exhibit, showcasing the Kaua'i-born former U.S. chief of staff. It's on permanent display. There's also a Gallery of Heroes, honoring recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. daily. www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org.

The textile exhibit at the UH-Manoa Art Gallery, "Writing With Thread: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities," features more than 500 unique articles of clothing and accessories that are being shown in the United States for the first time.

Each piece has a rich cultural history with an engrossing story behind it. From 2 to 3 p.m. each Sunday through Nov. 30, guided tours of the exhibit will be offered by curator Tom Klobe and others. The exhibition and tours are free and so is the on-campus parking on Sundays.

Advertiser staff writer Paula Rath contributed to this report.