Heard Museum relishes coveted status from Alliance of Museums
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
The Heard Museum is announcing it has been selected as one of 40 museums across the country to receive the reaccreditation award from the American Alliance of Museums — the only organization representing the entire scope of the museum community, officials there say.
Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only 1,103 are accredited, Heard Museum officials report. Accreditation is achieved through a rigorous process of self-assessment and careful review by peer organizations. A full list of museums that were accredited or reaccredited can be found HERE.
Recognized as the field’s gold standard for museum excellence for over 50 years, AAM accreditation signifies a museum’s quality and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.
The Accreditation Program helps ensure the integrity and accessibility of museum collections, reinforcesthe educational and public service roles of museums, and promotes good governance practices and ethical behavior.
“To again achieve accreditation from The American Alliance of Museums is a thrilling affirmation for the Heard Museum,” said David M. Roche, Dickey Family director and Heard Museum CEO. “I want to congratulate the Board of Trustees and staff whose years of dedication and consistent hard work to meet the highest professional standards is reflected in this honor.”
The Heard Museum’s mission is to be the world’s preeminent museum for the presentation, interpretation, and advancement of American Indian art, emphasizing its intersection with broader artistic and cultural themes.
Founded in 1929, the museum is one of the largest and oldest cultural organizations in Arizona. The Heard seeks to inspire and educate visitors about Indigenous art and culture through original exhibitions, scholarly publications, our library and archival resource collection, educational initiatives, and public programs.
The Heard welcomes ~145,000 visitors annually to its 8-acre Phoenix downtown campus and stewards a permanent collectionof more than 44,000 works of Indigenous creation. The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, and USA Today have ranked the Heard among the best museums in the U.S. and a top tourist stop when visiting Phoenix.
