Why is Accreditation Important to the Museum Field?
In a rapidly changing world, accreditation inspires museums to achieve a higher standard. It strengthens the field as a whole, as well as the museums that receive accreditation, by: • contributing to the development and dissemination of standards for the museum community • promoting professional practices that enable museum leadership to make informed, ethical decisions; allocate and use resources wisely; and be accountable to the public • encouraging excellence in the museum community • serving as the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance and self-regulation • emphasizing the public service role and strengthening the public image of all museums. Individual and institutional AAM members identify accreditation as one of the association’s most valued programs (Surveys conducted by AAM in 2002 and 2003). In recognition of accreditation’s value to its membership and the field, AAM subsidizes approximately half of the program’s costs. The rest of the program is supported by fees pai
