The American Alliance of Museums takes pride in recognizing outstanding individuals, programs, and organizations dedicated to excellence within, and support of, museums. Recognition of multiple honorees in certain categories highlights the scope of exemplary work across all types of museums and roles in the museum field.
To better highlight and celebrate the breadth of the museum professional community, in 2023 we redesigned the awards program to better align with AAM’s strategic framework and make the AAM awards and recognition program more accessible and relevant to the breadth of the museum field. These changes were intended to create even more opportunities to celebrate the vital role that every museum professional plays in building thriving museums, strong communities, and a better world.
Award for Distinguished Service to Museums
The Distinguished Service to Museums Award recognizes an individual’s significant and sustained contributions to the museum profession for at least 20 years.
The Museum Impact Award
The Museum Impact Award highlights important and noteworthy work that is driving impact and making a difference both internally through museum workplace culture, programs, and policies and externally through engagement with museum audiences and communities. Multiple individuals, programs/initiatives, and organizations may be recognized in a given year.
Nancy Hanks Memorial Awards for Rising Stars
The Nancy Hanks Memorial Awards for Rising Stars recognize museum professionals who have ten years or fewer of experience as a museum professional who are making an impact in their institutions, communities, and the museum field. Multiple individuals may be recognized in a given year.
