October 8, 1999
Contact: Andrea Norris, Spencer Museum of Art, (785) 864Æ0139.
LAWRENCE -- The Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas has again received the highest honor a museum can be awarded: accreditation by the American Association of Museums.
Andrea Norris, Spencer museum director, recently received the accreditation notice from the AAM. Accreditation certifies that a museum operates according to standards set forth by the museum profession, manages its collection responsibly, and provides quality service to the public. Of the 8,000 museums nationwide, only some 750 are accredited. Once accredited, the institution is re-evaluated every 10 years and must maintain the same high standards to continue being accredited. This is the second reaccreditation for the Spencer Museum of Art.
"We hope the people of Kansas share our pride in having earned this prestigious honor," Norris said. "This process was rigorous and demanding, as we examined virtually every aspect of our museum's operations; a year of self-study and on-site review by a team of experienced museum professionals was required. We invite everyone in our community to help us celebrate this award by visiting the Spencer Museum of Art and exploring its fine exhibitions and programs."
The Spencer Art Museum is on the KU campus between the Kansas Union and Memorial Stadium. Its collections of art cover the span of world art history. In addition to the permanent collection, currently showing are the exhibitions Mexican Prints from the Collection of Reba and Dave Williams, through Oct. 17; Personal Choices: American Indian Art from a Private Collection, through Oct. 24; Dürer's Echo: Five Centuries of Influence, through Nov. 14, and opening Oct. 30 Facing Death: Portraits from Cambodia's Killing Fields.
Accreditation is one of several programs offered by the American Association of Museums to help museum achieve and maintain standards of quality and excellence in the museum profession. AAM is a national organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C., that has served the profession since 1906.
Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045
(785) 864-4710
http://www.ku.edu/~sma
Gallery hours
Tues., Wed., Fri., & Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sun. Noon-5 p.m.
Galleries closed Monday
No admission fee.