For Immediate Release
Arlington, VA – The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the only organization representing the entire scope of the museum community, today announced two new museum accreditation awards and 6 reaccreditations made at the June 2020 meeting of the Accreditation Commission. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, 1,088 are currently accredited.
Through a rigorous process of self-assessment and review by their peers, these museums have demonstrated they meet standards and best practices and are educational entities that are appropriate stewards of the collections and resources they hold in the public trust.
Recognized as the field’s gold standard for museum excellence for nearly 50 years, AAM accreditation signifies a museum’s quality and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Accreditation Program helps to ensure the integrity and accessibility of museum collections, reinforce the educational and public service roles of museums, and promote good governance practices and ethical behavior.
The following museums were accredited for the first time:
- Japanese Friendship Garden, San Diego, CA
- Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park, Lafayette, LA
The following museums were reaccredited:
- Augusta Museum of History, Augusta, GA
- Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA
- Greenwich Historical Society, Cos Cob, CT
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA
- Oberlin Heritage Center, Oberlin, OH
- William King Museum of Art, Abingdon, VA
“At our meeting we saw museums with a wide range of resources—from an institution with two staff and a budget of less than $500,000 to one with 61 staff and a $10M budget. One-third had seven or fewer staff.” said Amy Bartow-Melia, Accreditation Commission Chair. “But regardless of resources, this group of gardens, historic sites, living history, art, and history museums all meet the Core Standards for Museums in different and relevant ways in service to their mission, community, and collections.”
To earn accreditation, a museum submits a self-study questionnaire and key operational documents for evaluation, then undergoes a site visit by a two-person team of peer reviewers which produces a report for the Accreditation Commission. The Commission uses these materials and its collective expertise to determine whether to grant accreditation.
Read more about the Alliance’s Accreditation program.
About the American Alliance of Museums
The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.
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Press Contact:
Natanya Khashan
