Hudson River Museum Receives Highest National Recognition: Awarded Reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums

YONKERS, NY, May 9, 2023—The Hudson River Museum has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, 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. The Hudson River Museum was initially accredited in 1974. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every ten 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 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. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only 1,103 are currently accredited, which is approximately 3%.

“We are immensely proud that the Hudson River Museum has received reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums,” said Director and CEO Masha Turchinsky. “It demonstrates our unyielding commitment to excellence and operating according to national standards and best practices. I am grateful to our dedicated Board of Trustees and exceptional staff for all of their hard work to reach this important achievement. We share this recognition with our visitors, partners, and supporters, who provide us endless inspiration to engage, inspire, and connect diverse communities through the power of the arts, sciences, and history.”

“The Hudson River Museum is Westchester’s national treasure and an asset to museumgoers throughout the region,” said New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “Each year many thousands of visitors enjoy their exhibits and cultural programs for people of all ages. Having this accreditation once again shows that the Museum continues to operate according to the same standards and practices as the largest and most prestigious museums in the country. My congratulations to the Museum’s Director and CEO Masha Turchinsky, and to all who have worked so hard to make this happen and to provide Westchester residents and beyond with a gold standard museum.”

“I am excited to congratulate the Hudson River Museum on their recent accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, an honor awarded to only 3% of museums nationwide and 18% in New York State,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16). “From astronomy to the arts, the museum’s programming, events, and exhibits offer opportunities for all of us in NY-16 and across the country to explore our interests and learn about our history and culture. Their work to engage, inspire, and bring together the community of Westchester continues to make our district more vibrant, and I am proud to support their work.”

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “I applaud the Hudson River Museum for their reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. The HRM brings an essential cultural and educational experience to visitors of all ages throughout Westchester County and beyond. Their impact is felt far and wide, attracting visitors from an impressive 45 states in 2022. Congratulations!”

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano stated, “The Hudson River Museum makes Yonkers proud! As the HRM prepares to open its new West Wing and stunning new galleries and community spaces, our City is thrilled that our premiere organization for art, science, and history has achieved this national recognition of quality and professionalism.”

Considered the gold standard to which museums aspire, 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.

“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.”

Press contact:
Jeana Wunderlich
jwunderlich@hrm.org
(914) 963-4550 x240

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