The Huntington Museum of Art 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 Huntington Museum of Art has been accredited since the late 1970s. 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 more than 50 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.
“I have to thank the tireless efforts of former HMA Executive Director Margaret Mary Layne, our board members and staff for all the work that went into the reaccreditation process,” said HMA Executive Director Elizabeth “Liz” Simmons. “The Huntington Museum of Art is a great institution with dedicated staff, board members and volunteers. Being one of about 1,100 nationally accredited museums is a special honor and we will continue to do our best day in and day out to uphold museum standards and serve the Tri-State community and beyond with distinction and creativity.”
Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100, including the Huntington Museum of Art, are currently accredited.
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.”
Nestled on more than 50 acres with a nature trail system, the Huntington Museum of Art is a fine art museum that also is home to the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory of tropical and subtropical plants and orchids. HMA hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. HMA is fully accessible.
For more information about HMA, visit hmoa.org or call (304) 529-2701.
West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement.
About the American Alliance of Museums
The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is the only organization representing the entire museum field, from art and history museums to science centers and zoos. Since 1906, we have been championing museums through advocacy and providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward. For more information, visit aam-us.org.