UW Art Museum Receives Highest National Recognition

The University of Wyoming Art Museum has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded by the nation’s museums.

Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies and the museum-going public. The UW Art Museum initially was accredited in 1976. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.

AAM 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 AAM 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.

“This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our exceptional staff and board, whose tireless efforts have not only upheld the highest standards in museum practices, but also reinforced our commitment to excellence,” UW Art Museum Director Nicole Crawford says. “With support from the university administration, this reaccreditation is a collaborative success that underscores our institution’s collective dedication to preserving, exhibiting and sharing art and culture.

“Being accredited is not just a recognition; it reflects our ongoing pursuit of excellence, ensuring that our museum continues to be a beacon of inspiration, education and cultural enrichment for our community and beyond,” Crawford adds. “This accreditation reaffirms our pledge to uphold the highest standards, and we look forward to the continued benefits it will bring to our museum and those who engage with it.”

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, just over 1,100 are currently accredited. The UW Art Museum is one of only two museums accredited in Wyoming.

Accreditation is a 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, 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.

“Accredited museums are a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence,” says Laura Lott, AAM president and CEO. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.”

The UW Art Museum exhibits, preserves and interprets visual culture from around the world to engage academic, local, state, national and global communities. The museum is located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 E. Willett Drive in Laramie. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday hours are extended to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

About the American Alliance of Museums

AAM 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 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions and corporate partners serving the museum field, the alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.