Museum Accreditation in America facts for kids

Museum Accreditation in the United States is a special way for museums to show they are doing a great job. It means a museum follows the best rules for how to take care of its collections, manage its money, and teach people. The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is the group that gives this important recognition.

Accreditation helps visitors know that a museum is a high-quality place. It also helps museums get support and funding. It is a very detailed process, and not many museums in the United States have this special status.

What is Museum Accreditation?

Museum accreditation is like a gold star for museums. It means an independent group, the American Alliance of Museums, has checked the museum very carefully. They make sure the museum meets high standards in many areas. These areas include how they care for their art and artifacts, how they manage their money, and how they educate the public.

This process is completely voluntary. Museums choose to go through it to show they are committed to being excellent. It helps them improve and become even better places for everyone to visit and learn.

Why is Accreditation Important?

Accreditation is important for several reasons.

• For Visitors: When a museum is accredited, it tells you it is a trustworthy place. You can be sure the collections are well-cared for and that the museum offers good educational programs.
• For Museums: Accreditation helps museums get grants and funding. It shows donors and foundations that the museum is well-managed and responsible. It also helps museums attract talented staff and volunteers.
• For the Field: It helps all museums work towards common goals and high standards. This makes the entire museum community stronger and more respected.

The Accreditation Process

Getting accredited is a long and detailed journey for a museum. It usually takes several years to complete. Here are the main steps:

• Application: A museum first applies to the American Alliance of Museums. They show they are ready to start the process.
• Self-Study: The museum then spends a lot of time looking at itself. They write a detailed report about everything they do. This includes how they care for their collections, how they manage their finances, and how they serve their community.
• Site Visit: After the self-study, a team of museum experts visits the museum. They spend several days looking at everything. They talk to staff, board members, and volunteers. They check if what the museum wrote in its self-study is true.
• Review and Decision: The visiting team writes a report. This report goes to the Accreditation Commission, a group of experienced museum professionals. They review all the information and decide if the museum meets the standards for accreditation.

If a museum is accredited, it is not forever. Museums must go through the process again every ten years to keep their accreditation. This makes sure they continue to meet high standards over time.

Who Oversees Museums?

Unlike schools and universities, which are often overseen by government bodies like the Department of Education, there is no single government agency that oversees all museums in the United States. This means that museum accreditation is not required by law.

Instead, the American Alliance of Museums is a private, non-profit organization. It sets the standards and runs the accreditation program. Because it is voluntary and very strict, fewer than 10% of American museums are accredited. This shows how challenging and respected the accreditation status is. It means a museum has truly gone above and beyond to meet the best practices in the museum world.