Baton Rouge, LA – The LSU Museum of Art 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 LSU Museum of Art has been accredited since 2010. All museums must undergo a re-accreditation 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.
"We are deeply grateful to the American Alliance of Museums for this recognition, as the accreditation process provided a valuable opportunity for reflection and growth," said Mark Tullos, Director of the LSU Museum of Art. "We were especially pleased that our museum colleagues recognized what makes the LSU Museum of Art distinctive—our commitment to engagement, education, and fostering meaningful connections through art. As a university art museum, we strive to challenge expectations, inspire curiosity, and create dynamic experiences for our community. This process allowed us to reaffirm our mission and articulate the impact of our work."
"This accreditation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire LSU team, who committed to this rigorous process over the past year," said Tullos. "We are especially grateful for the leadership of Dr. Jane Cassidy, Vice Provost for helping coordinate university support for a myriad of goals to prepare for the review.” We also deeply appreciate the support of LSU’s senior administration, who passionately champion the museum as an essential academic and cultural resource. At LSU, we recognize that education in any discipline is enriched by engagement with the arts, and this accreditation reinforces the vital role the museum plays in fostering creativity, scholarship, and community connection.”
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.
The LSU Museum of Art is proud to bear a mark of excellence from The American Alliance of Museums, a mark that signifies in part its dedication to providing transformative encounters with art. The 2023-24 Academic year included many such encounters including the Access for All program made possible through a $240,000 grant from the Art Bridges Foundation. The LSU Museum of Art was the only museum in the state to receive this support. Over the past year, the museum not only significantly expanded museum collections storage but also presented significant exhibitions, including In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870 – 1940, Works from the Bank of America Collection.
“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.”
ABOUT LSU MUSEUM OF ART
LSU Museum of Art is supported by a grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President & Metro Council; and in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. LSUMOA thanks the generous donors to the Annual Fund. Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program. Free Friday Nights is sponsored by the Louisiana Lottery Corporation. Additional support is provided by generous donors to the LSU Museum of Art Annual Exhibition Fund.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The museum is located in downtown Baton Rouge at 100 Lafayette Street on the Fifth Floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts. General admission is $5 each for adults and children age 13 and over. Admission is free to university faculty and students with ID, children age 12 and under, and museum members. Active-duty military and veterans, first responders, and their families receive free admission with ID as part of the Blue Star Museums program. Show your EBT card and photo ID at the admissions desk and receive free admission for up to 4 individuals as part of the Museums for All initiative. Museum Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.; and closed on Mondays and major holidays. Free admission occurs on the first Sunday of each month and every Friday night from 5-8 p.m. For more information: visit www.lsumoa.org, call 225-578-3000, and follow the museum on social media @lsumoa for exhibition and program updates.
About the American Alliance of Museums
The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is the only organization representing the entire museum field, from art and history museums to science centers and zoos. Since 1906, we have been championing museums through advocacy and providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward. For more information, visit aam-us.org.
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