For Immediate Release
July 28, 2022
CLARK ART INSTITUTE RECEIVES HIGHEST NATIONAL RECOGNITION FROM AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS
Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute recently received reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the only organization representing the entire scope of the museum community. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, 1,096 are currently accredited.
Recognized as the field’s gold standard for museum excellence for fifty years, AAM accreditation signifies a museum’s quality and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Accreditation Program helps to ensure the integrity and accessibility of museum collections, reinforce the educational and public service roles of museums, and promote good governance practices and ethical behavior.
Through a rigorous process of self-assessment and review by their peers, accredited museums demonstrate they meet the museum community’s standards of best practices, and are educational entities that are appropriate stewards of the collections and resources they hold in the public trust.
“We are very proud that the Clark has received reaccreditation from AAM and are honored to be among a peer group of museums that share the Clark’s commitment to professional excellence in all aspects of museum operations,” said Olivier Meslay, Hardymon Director of the Clark Art Institute.
ABOUT THE CLARK ART INSTITUTE
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance timed tickets are recommended. Admission is $20. Admission is also free on a year-round basis for Clark members, all visitors age twenty-one and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For more information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
Use of facemasks is optional for all visitors. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.
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, AAM has championed museums through advocacy and by providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward.
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