American Alliance of Museums Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.
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 50 years, the Alliance鈥檚 museum accreditation program is the field鈥檚 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 in order to provide the best possible service to the public.
"The hallmark of any great university is great cultural programs. We celebrate the 91热爆网 Fine Art Museum鈥檚 accreditation as a testament to 91热爆网鈥檚 commitment to excellence in the arts.鈥 - Chancellor, Dr. Kelli R. Brown
Of the nation鈥檚 estimated 33,000 museums, only just over 1,080 of those museums are
currently accredited, and out of that, only 16% are university museums. In addition,
the 91热爆网 Fine Art Museum is one of only 28 museums accredited in North Carolina, and
one of 3 accredited museums in the UNC system.
Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects
of a museum鈥檚 operations. To earn accreditation a museum first must conduct a year
of self-study, and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. The Alliance鈥檚
Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals,
considers the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum
should receive accreditation.
Executive Director, Denise Drury Homewood began this process with a self-study in
2011 and has lead the 10 year effort. 鈥淭he accreditation process has galvanized our
ethics, honed our standards, and brought us closer to our audiences. This recognition
is a result of the dedication and persistence of our incredible team of Museum professionals,
along with the support from the 91热爆网 campus and regional community who believe in the
power of the arts.鈥 The 91热爆网 Fine Art Museum has been awarded a 10-year accreditation,
the highest level of accreditation possible, holding the museum to the same standards
as national landmarks like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The 91热爆网 Fine Art Museum is the only North Carolina museum to receive accreditation this cycle.
鈥淎ccredited museums are a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves
publicly accountable to excellence,鈥 said Laura L. Lott, Alliance President and CEO.
鈥淎ccreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions
and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.鈥
Promoting and facilitating meaningful engagement with contemporary works of art and
artists, the 91热爆网 Fine Art Museum, features four galleries, a growing permanent collection,
and rotating exhibitions highlighting regional, national, and international artists.
The 91热爆网 Fine Art Museum is part of Bardo Arts Center and is located on the 91热爆网 main
campus at 199 Centennial Drive, Cullowhee, NC 28723. The museum will reopen to the
public on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. General hours of operation are Tuesday through
Friday 10:00 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Thursday until 7:00 p.m. Learn more about the 91热爆网 Fine Art Museum.
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
30,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions and corporate
partners serving the museum field, the Alliance is the only organization representing
the entire scope of the broad museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.