For Immediate Release

ARLINGTON, VA – April 1, 2019 – The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is pleased to announce, with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the enhancement of the Museum Assessment Program (MAP).

Since its inception in 1981, MAP has helped more than 5,000 small and mid-sized museums through a one-year process of self-assessment, institutional activities, and consultative peer review. This process helps to create a culture of excellence within the museum, build capacity, and integrate core standards and best practices into daily practice.

The new two-year cooperative agreement will include the development of two new assessments:  Education and Board Leadership.

The three existing assessments, Organizational, Collections Stewardship, and Community Engagement, will be enhanced with an increased focus on action steps and implementation of peer reviewer recommendations, embedded diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion components. New tools will help museums advance from identifying challenges to definitive action steps.

Additional program components will include education and support for the dedicated corps of volunteer peer reviewers – museum professionals who, through a site visit and written report, provide an assessment of the museum strengths and weaknesses, a road map of recommendations, and suggested action steps.

“Our Museum Assessment Program makes it possible for small and mid-sized museums to perform at higher levels of professionalism, and to get recognized for it,” said AAM President & CEO Laura Lott. “We are pleased to continue our partnership with IMLS to actively nurture museum excellence and expand museums’ capacities to serve their communities.”

“The impact of the museum sector as a whole can only improve if all museums small and large receive the needed resources and assistance to reach their fullest potential,” said Paula Gangopadhyay, Deputy Director of the Office of Museum Services at IMLS. “IMLS is pleased to support an enhanced MAP program that will help strengthen the capacity of small and mid-sized museums and help them evolve as relevant and contributing leaders in their communities.”

Over the next several months, AAM will focus on making changes to MAP and then open the online application process in Fall 2019, with an anticipated application deadline of December 1, 2019. Detailed information is available at https://www.aam-us.org/programs/accreditation-excellence-programs/museum-assessment-program-map/.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow on Facebook (link is external) and Twitter (link is external).

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 https://www.aam-us.org/.

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Press Contact:

David Harrison
Harrison Communications
410-804-1728
david@harrisoncommunications.net

 

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