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The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Receives Highest National Recognition
Awarded Re-Accreditation from the American Association of Museums
April 7, 2010
Jacksonville, Fla. – The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has again achieved accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Cummer was initially accredited in 1975 and has been twice subsequently accredited. 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 35 years, AAM’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 ?all in order to provide the best possible service to the public.
"I am extremely proud of our staff, volunteers, partners and supporters for earning this special recognition for The Cummer,” said Museum Director Hope McMath. “This is an important acknowledgement of the good work that The Cummer does and is especially meaningful as it is based on an intense review by leaders in the museum field.”
Of the estimated 17,500 museums in the United States, 780 are currently accredited with The Cummer being one of only 48museums accredited in the State of Florida.
Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. The accreditation process involved an intense self-study completed over an 18-month period and a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. The Museum was closely scrutinized on a wide range of areas including quality and care of the collection, financial stability, leadership and organizational structure, education, facilities and community engagement. The Accreditation Commission highlighted several areas for special commendation, especially the education programs that reach out to underserved audiences. The Commission stated, "The museum's long range planning is incredibly engaging, and the education programs, especially those linking art to special audiences are national models. There is also an amazing amount of volunteer support at all levels of the organization."
“The Board of Trustees are proud of this important peer recognition of our institution and its’ contribution to the quality of life in our community,” said Chairman Cummer Board of Trustees James Van Vleck. “As we prepare for The Cummer’s 50th anniversary in 2011, we are committed to continue to build on the strengths and positive momentum recognized by the AAM.”
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. While the time to complete the process varies by museum, it generally takes as long as three years.
“For nearly half a century, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has been committed to excellence, in all that it does,” said AAM president Ford W. Bell. “Nothing is more emblematic of that than its re-accreditation. But this status is as much a re-confirmation of something the people of Jacksonville have known for a long time: the Cummer Art Museum & Gardens is one of America’s top museums.”
The Cummer will celebrate this national recognition and say thank you to the community by hosting a Free Community Celebration on Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live music and art-making activities. The community celebration is free and open to the public.
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is committed to engage and inspire through the arts, gardens and education. A permanent collection of nearly 5,000 objects and historic gardens on a riverfront campus offers more than 114,000 annual visitors a truly unique experience on the First Coast. Nationally recognized education programs serve adults and children of all abilities. The Cummer is located at 829 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida (904.356.6857). Museum hours are Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays Noon to 5 p.m. The Cummer offers Free Tuesdays from 4 to 9 p.m., sponsored by THE PLAYERS. For more information, call 904.356.6857 or visit www.cummer.org.
The American Association of Museums 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. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional, and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.
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Contact:
Amy Chamberlin
Associate Director of Marketing
Phone: 904-899-6034
achamberlin@cummer.org
Cell: 904-859-8121
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