A Note from the Director
LUMA Seeks Accreditation from the American Association of Museums: Part I
There are an estimated 17,500 museums in the United States, but only 776 are accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM). The standards for accreditation approval are rigorous and labor-intensive. LUMA's application for accreditation began a year ago and is moving toward the June 2010 deadline with a new strategic plan, collection management and emergency policies, mission statement, and another 47 documents. Why, with all the work involved, would we want to pursue this admirable but difficult goal? Museum accreditation is an imprimatur which puts forth that a cultural institution complies with museum standards and follows the best practices in the care of the collections, how acquisitions are processed, the relationship of the board of advisors to the museum, museum ethics, conflicts of interest, facilities, fiscal responsibility, and long-term planning. From soup to nuts, every facet of museum operation is examined by AAM accreditation staff, first through the necessary documents, and second, with a site visit from other museum professionals. In essence, this important attribution will allow LUMA to take its place among other accredited museums, to secure loans from larger museums across the country, and hold its professional and volunteer staff to the high standards we set for ourselves as LUMA grows. This process has been, and will continue to be, an educational process for our staff that we want you to be a part of. Stay tuned for more updates as we work steadily toward our goal.
Pamela E. Ambrose
Director of Cultural Affairs