FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arlington, VA – The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the only organization representing the entire scope of the museum community, today announced one new museum accreditation and 15 reaccreditations from the October 2018 meeting of the Accreditation Commission..

Through a rigorous process of self-assessment and review by their peers, these museums have demonstrated they meet standards and best practices and represented themselves as educational entities that are appropriate stewards of the collections and resources they hold in the public trust.

As the ultimate mark of distinction in the museum field, accreditation signifies excellence and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for nearly 50 years, the museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability. Accreditation 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 Fort Collins Museum of Discovery in Fort Collins, CO, was accredited for the first time.

The following museums were reaccredited:

• Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA
• The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
• Family Museum of Arts and Science, Bettendorf, IA
• Historic Newton, Newton, MA
• Longue Vue House & Gardens, New Orleans, LA
• Michigan History Center, Lansing, MI
• Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM
• National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, FL
• Louisiana’s Old State Capitol Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
• Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
• Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, MA
• Preservation Society of Newport County, Newport, RI
• Putnam Museum and Science Center, Davenport, IA
• Telfair Museums, Savannah, GA
• Washington State History Museum, Tacoma, WA

According to Accreditation Commission Chair Amy Bartow-Melia, “This group of accredited museums is representative of the diversity of America’s museums, including everything from art and children’s museums, to anthropology and naval aviation, and even a museum dedicated to political history. I commend the staff, board and volunteers of these institutions for their focus and commitment to excellence,” she said. “They’re an inspiration to our field and vital assets to the communities they serve.”

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, 1,069 are currently accredited. 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. The Accreditation Commission considers these results to determine whether a museum should receive 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.

###

Press Contact:

David Harrison

Harrison Communications

410-804-1728

david@harrisoncommunications.net