Akron, OH – The Akron Art Museum has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.
With over 1,200 eligible museums in Ohio alone, the Akron Art Museum is proud to be one of only 42 museums accredited in the state. Nationwide, of the estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100 are currently accredited.
Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for over fifty years, the Alliance’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable to provide the best possible service to the public.
“The Museum is deeply honored to receive reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums,” says Jon Fiume, CEO & John S. Knight Executive Director of the Akron Art Museum. “This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence in serving our community. We are grateful to the Museum’s dedicated staff and board members whose passion and hard work make this achievement possible.”
Accreditation is a rigorous yet rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum first conducts a year of self-study, followed by a site visit from a team of peer reviewers. The AAM’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers both the self-study and the visiting committee’s report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.
“Accreditation is a monumental achievement,” said Marilyn Jackson, AAM President & CEO. “The process demonstrates an institution’s commitment to best practice and is flexible enough to be accomplished by museums of any size.”