AAM honor affirms excellence in stewardship, education, and governance in the museum's 40th-anniversary year.
The Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth, has been reaccredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the field's mark of distinction for quality and public trust—placing the Hood Museum among 1,122 accredited museums nationwide. Out of the 33,000 museums in the United States, approximately 4% are accredited.
Dartmouth Provost Santiago Schnell says, "In the Hood Museum's 40th anniversary year, this distinction celebrates decades of scholarly curation and positions the museum for its next chapter of access, partnership, and research."
Hood Museum Deputy Director Alex Bortolot adds, "We've always held ourselves to the highest standards, and reaccreditation is a recognition of that. The standards and values that AAM champions through the accreditation process are bedrock principles that will help us remain resilient and stay true to our mission in the years ahead."
When first accredited in 1990, the Hood Museum was described by AAM as "a national model" for college and university museums. Thirty-five years later, during the museum's 40th-anniversary year, AAM's report states, "The Hood Museum of Art is among the top academic art museums in the U.S., and its service to the community is exemplary. The institution demonstrates model practices in governance, collections stewardship, and inclusive educational initiatives; all supported by a solid financial foundation and an engaged advisory board."
The Hood Museum already earned reaccreditation in 2000 and 2010. Receiving the honor in 2025 reaffirms the Hood Museum's enduring commitment to excellence in teaching with original works of art and community engagement. It also reflects the museum's adherence to national standards for conservation, collections care and stewardship, ethics, and sound fiscal management.
The reaccreditation process involved an extensive self-study, site visit, and peer review that evaluated the Hood Museum's performance in governance, education, collections care, and strategic management. Considered to be the gold standard of excellence in the field, AAM accreditation is a signifier of an institution's credibility and integrity. It allows the Hood Museum greater access to grants and loan opportunities, and it reinforces Dartmouth's overall reputation for excellence. It also ensures that the museum remains a model environment for learning and leadership in the field.
"The timing of our reaccreditation coincides perfectly with the Hood's ongoing 40th-anniversary celebrations," notes Virginia Rice Kelsey 1961s Director John Stomberg, "adding yet another milestone to this special year. I am particularly pleased to have this affirmation of the museum's professionalism now, as we are starting the search for our next director. It offers an outside, and objective, testimony to the important work that the Hood Museum and its staff carry out every year."