The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium has again achieved
accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The National Shell Museum & Aquarium has been accredited since 2010. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.
Alliance 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 over fifty years, the alliance’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 to provide the best possible service to the public.
Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100 are currently accredited. Accreditation is a very 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 and 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.
“Accreditation is a monumental achievement,” said Marilyn Jackson, AAM President & CEO. “The process demonstrates an institution’s commitment to best practice and is flexible enough to be accomplished by museums of any size.”
“The Museum is glad to be re-accredited and we appreciate all AAM’s work and close evaluation of both our programmatic and operational plans and activities,” said National Shell Museum & Aquarium Executive Director Sam Ankerson. “This achievement also speaks to the day-in, day-out excellent work by our staff and good and consistent Board leadership.”
The Museum is also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is one of only about a dozen institutions to be accredited by both AAM and AZA.
Learn more about the Museum HERE.