The Haggin Museum has achieved accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for a museum. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. Of the nation’s estimated 17,500 museums, less than six percent are currently accredited.
AAM Accreditation is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability, and earns national recognition for a museum for its commitment to excellence in all that it does: governance, collections stewardship, public programs, financial stability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 35 years, AAM’s Museum Accreditation program strengthens the profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and to provide the best possible service to the public.
Tod Ruhstaller, The Haggin Museum’s CEO, remarked that accreditation is “a recognition of the professionalism of our staff, the commitment of our Board of Trustees, and the dedication of our many volunteers. It is also a positive reflection of this community, which has supported the Haggin for nearly 82 years.”
To celebrate the honor, the museum staff is planning special surprises for visitors during June, the month of the museum’s 82nd birthday. Rarely-seen items from the permanent collection will be put on display, and the community is invited to enjoy free admission on Flag Day, June 14, the anniversary of the museum’s opening day.
“Accreditation assures the people of Stockton that their museum is among the finest in the nation,” said Ford W. Bell, president of AAM. “As a result, the citizens can take considerable pride in their homegrown institution, for its commitment to excellence and for the value it brings to the community.”
Accreditation is a rigorous 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, review and evaluate 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 three years.
About The Haggin Museum
The Haggin Museum is a nonprofit art and history museum located at 1201 N. Pershing Ave., Stockton, CA. It is open Saturdays-Sundays from 12-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays from 1:30-5 p.m. and 1st & 3rd Thursdays from 1:30-9 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (ages 65 and older), $5 for students and youth (ages 10-17), and free for children under 10, museum members, and on the first Saturday of each month. For more information call 209.940.6300.
About The American Alliance of Museums
The American Alliance 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 17,000 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.