“The peer review process always keeps you up to speed on 'best practices' in the field. Each and every visit you make also gives you new ideas that you can take back to your museum for improvement. It is an enjoyable experience, meeting staff in other museums and visiting institutions and communities that you might not ever get to see otherwise.”- Joe Schenck, Director, Gilcrease Museum, OK, MAP and Accreditation Peer Reviewer
FAQs about Becoming an AAM Peer Reviewer
What does an AAM Peer Reviewer do?
Why become an AAM Peer Reviewer?
Who can become an AAM Peer Reviewer?
Do AAM Peer Reviewers need to be members of AAM?
What do current AAM Peer Reviewers say about the program?
What resources are available for AAM Peer Reviewers?
What is the time commitment and cost?
How often will I go on a site visit?
What are the differences between MAP and Accreditation Reviewers?
What does an AAM Peer Reviewer do?
Over 1400 peer reviewers support AAM’s Museum Assessment and Accreditation Programs. Our reviewers support the programs by reviewing self assessment materials, conducting site visits, and writing a report for museums in these two programs. This is done on an entirely volunteer basis. Reviewers are initially matched to museums based on museum type/discipline and size. Sometimes they are also matched to an institution based on their experience and expertise with a particular governance structure or particular type of institutional challenge.
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Why become an AAM Peer Reviewer?
Being an AAM Peer Review provides rich opportunities to grow, learn, and give back to the field. With each site visit you will interact with fellow professionals and learn how another museum is meeting its challenges. Current peer reviewers tell us that the experience empowers them to become a more effective professional in their home institution.
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Who can become an AAM Peer Reviewer?
A museum professional who is:
- knowledgeable about museum operations with at least 5 years of experience
- a participant in the field-wide dialogue on standards, best practices and emerging field–wide issues (e.g., speaking, writing, teaching, reviewing grants, conferences, etc.)
- a good communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
- a strong writer and critical thinker
- committed to the highest ethical standards and level of professionalism
- willing to travel and volunteer 40-60 hours of time per assignment
Download the qualifications for service. (DOC)
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Do AAM Peer Reviewers need to be members of AAM?
While Peer Reviewers do not need to be members of AAM to participate, joining AAM is recommended as membership provides access to additional information and resources that will assist you as a reviewer, including the AAM Information Center as well as discounts to professional development webinars and seminars, the AAM Annual Meeting, and books in the bookstore. Learn more about membership here.
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What do current AAM Peer Reviewers say about the program?
Read what other reviewers say about being an AAM Peer Reviewer and why they benefit from the program as much as the museums they review.
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What resources are available for AAM Peer Reviewers?
Once accepted into the program, you will receive an orientation packet that will help you get started. You will also have access to the Helpdesk. If you are an AAM member, you will also have access to the AAM Information Center.
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What is the time commitment and cost?
Your costs are your time. Generally, about 40-60 hours are spent on each assignment. The time required depends on each individual’s work style and the complexity and size of the museum involved. This is done in a volunteer capacity. AAM will reimburse all travel costs, and for MAP reviewers, a small honorarium is provided.
- Accreditation Peer Reviewers report that they spend about 60 hours over a three-month period preparing, conducting the site visit, and writing the narrative report.
- MAP Peer Reviewers report that they spend about 60 hours over a three-month period preparing, conducting the site visit, writing the assessment report and following up with the museum.
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How often will I go on a site visit?
Depending on your experience and expertise, you can reasonably expect AAM to contact you every one to five years. Peer reviewers are selected based upon the participating museum's discipline and institutional experience. For example, the Accreditation Program always has a large number of art and history museums needing visits, so reviewers with this type of experience and expertise get called more frequently than, for example, reviewers exclusive to the children’s museum field. You may be matched to an institution that’s like your current or past institutions in terms of type/discipline or in terms of its governance structure or particular type of institutional challenges.
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What are the differences between MAP and Accreditation Reviewers?
The differences between the MAP and Accreditation programs are outlined here: Difference between MAP and Accreditation Programs PDF
Both the Museum Assessment and Accreditation programs require peer reviewers to be:
- well-informed about current standards and best practices in the field
- broadly knowledgeable about institutions similar to the ones they review
- objective, professional, thorough, and diplomatic while visiting the museums and preparing their reports
- scrupulous in maintaining confidentiality about the results of the review
- familiar with the museum’s self-study and supplementary documents
Beyond these basic similarities there are significant differences in roles and responsibilities for peer reviewers—in line with the different objectives of MAP versus Accreditation:
MAP Peer Reviewers:
Accreditation Peer Reviewers:
- Called Visiting Committee Members
- Usually a team of two for each site visit
- Act as the Accreditation Commission’s “eyes and ears” and assess operations against accreditation standards to aid its decision-making process
- Do not provide feedback or suggestions to the museum about how to improve operations
- Must be objective and observational
- Write the report primarily for the Accreditation Commission; secondarily for the museum
- Accreditation Visiting Committee Member Position Description PDF
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Apply Now to become an AAM Peer Reviewer
Contact the Peer Review program
