In 1976 the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) was initially accredited and has again achieved accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, founders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. All museums must undergo a re accreditation 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.
IMAS Executive Director, Serena Rosenkrantz states, “we involved our staff, board, elected city officials and community leaders to participate in the accreditation process, from the self-evaluation process down to the actual site visit. The process gave all of us an opportunity to work alongside other leading field professionals as well as provided us a number of tools and resources to help us ensure sustainability. The feedback we received from the site evaluators was extraordinarily helpful. The hard work, dedication and contributions made by the staff and the IMAS Board Governance Committee made it all happen. And for that we are truly grateful. The experience not only validated our efforts and hard work over the past 10 years, but also helped us focus on the work we need to do for benefiting our community over the next 10 years.”
Of the nation’s estimated 17,500 museums, 775 are currently accredited. IMAS is one of forty museums accredited in Texas. “Accreditation is emblematic of an institution’s commitment to public service and to overall excellence,” said Ford W. Bell, AAM President. “Attaining accreditation involves taking a hard look at yourself, allowing your peers in the field to do the same, and being judged to be superior in all areas. The people of the City of McAllen and of Hidalgo County can take great pride in the fact that their local institution is one of America’s premier museums.”
