----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 9:42 AM
Subject: Re: AAM accreditation
I believe I'm the member who posted the original
question.
What was interesting to me is that Alexandra was just
about the only respondent to my question.
My organization is an unusual one, not just a museum but
a historic preservation organization that also operates 2 house museums - so,
for us, the question about re-accrediting is more complex.
While I agree that the self-study process can be useful
to the organization,and includes questions that every institution should be
able to answer, I still wonder about the programs' effectiveness in ratio to
the expense - both out of pocket and for the staff time involved - for mid or
smaller size museums.
Alexandra mentioned credibility, visibility, fundability.
Credibility - in whose eyes? the general public, our colleagues, or AAM?
Visibility - same question. Fundability - we have been accredited for 30
years, and I can not think of one instance where it helped us get funding,
with the possible exception of IMLS, when they offered general operating
support.
I agree it would be an interesting topic at a conference.
It would be interesting to see if our colleagues would actually address this
issue in a more public forum. I wonder, if to "diss" accreditation would be
seen as disrespecting the AAM.
Dear Members of this
list:
A few weeks ago, another
member of this listserv asked what the point of getting an AAM accreditation
or re-accreditation might be in that the process is so complex and
time-consuming. I responded that it increased credibility, visibility,
and fundability, while demonstrating that the institution believes that its
public funding means that it should be accountable and transparent, using best
practices and so on. Then I talked to a few colleagues who thought my
position might not be as strong as I assumed, and wonder what your reaction
might be to my statements. Why do museums work to get accredited in the
first place? Is it worth it strategically? It seems to me that
this might be a discussion topic at a conference because people are conflicted
about it.
I am completing an AAM
re-accreditation project as an independent museum professional for the Harvard
University Art Museums. The process, while long and complicated, went
well. Some new channels of communications were opened or solidified,
while whatever policies, procedures, plans, and strategies that were missing
or lacking are now in place and HUAM believes that its claim of being one of
the top educational and collecting museums is more demonstrable. I
agree. I think it’s great, even expected, that museums large or small be
accredited. Do you?
Many thanks for your
input!
Alexandra
Rollins
Alexandra W.
Rollins
Nonprofit and Arts
Management
24 Goodrich
Road
Jamaica
Plain, MA 02130-2005
617-524-6007; fax
6037
www.rollinsupton.com
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