The Bruce Museum has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.
The Bruce has been accredited since 1997. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.
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.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Museum staff, we are thrilled the Bruce Museum has once again received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums” note John Hart and Karen Keegan, board co-chairs. “This recognition is a wonderful confirmation of the Museum’s commitment to excellence, the quality of its exhibitions and programs, and its financial strength among its peer institutions. Accreditation also reinforces our vision ‘to be a center for inspiration and learning, where extraordinary art and science spark conversation, connection and creativity’.”
Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100 are currently accredited. The Bruce Museum is one of only twenty-two museums accredited in Connecticut.
Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s 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. AAM’s 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.
“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.”