Press Contact: Dan Bell, Communications and Community Relations Director
Phone Number: (909) 395-2400
Date: November 20, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Ontario
Department of Museum, Arts & Culture
Ontario Museum of History & Art Receives Highest National Recognition
Awarded Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums
Ontario, CA 11/20/2023 – The Ontario Museum of History & Art has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.
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 50 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 in order to provide the best possible service to the public.
“This is a huge milestone for the Museum and a testament to our staff’s dedication and expertise. Our Museum’s Board of Trustees built a strategic plan that has guided the Museum’s growth and allowed this institution to flourish with innovative programs and exhibits for our community. We are grateful for the City’s investment in arts and culture and the community’s support of our organization.” – Marissa Kucheck, Director of Museum, Arts & Culture
“This is so exciting. The Museum’s Board of Trustees and staff undertook a strategic plan 15 years ago that included accreditation as one of our goals. Thank you to the Museum’s staff for making this dream come true. We are one of eight entities in San Bernadino County that are accredited. This will bring the Ontario Museum of History & Art more opportunities for funding in the future.” – Debra Porada, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Ontario
Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, over 1080 are currently accredited. The Ontario Museum of History & Art is one of only 78 museums accredited in California.
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. The Alliance’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.
“Accredited museums are a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence,” said Laura L. Lott, Alliance President and CEO. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.”
About the Ontario Museum of History & Art
The Ontario Museum of History & Art is located at 225 S. Euclid Avenue, Ontario, California 91762. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, Noon to 4 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free. For more information call (909) 395-2510, email MuseumInfo@ontarioCA.gov, visit www.OntarioMuseum.org or follow @ontariomusuem_artsculture on Instagram. The Ontario Museum of History & Art is a facility of the City of Ontario’s Department of Museum, Arts & Culture. The Ontario Museum of History & Art Associates is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization that supports the Museum’s education programs.
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. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.
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About the City of Ontario
The City of Ontario is enhancing the quality-of-life by creating urban lifestyle districts that create sustainable places to live, work and play. Located just east of Los Angeles and Orange counties, the City of Ontario is ideally situated as a gateway to Southern California. With major freeways, rail transportation and an International Airport, Ontario invites the rest of the world to be a part of a culturally diverse community with rich history that is well positioned for quality development and economic sustainability for its residents. Complementing its business and residential core, Ontario offers premium entertainment venues such as the Ontario Convention Center, Toyota Arena, and Ontario Mills. To learn more about the City of Ontario, visit OntarioCA.gov or call (909) 395-2000.