Wiregrass Museum of Art selected to participate in national Museum Assessment Program
DOTHAN, Alabama – April 6, 2021 – Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) has been selected to participate in the Museum Assessment Program (MAP), which is administered by the American Alliance of Museums. Through guided self-study assessment and on-site consultation with a museum professional, participation in MAP will empower Wiregrass Museum of Art to better serve the citizens of Dothan and the Wiregrass region by facilitating its meeting and exceeding the highest professional standards of the museum field.
The museum’s participation is made possible through funding provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). MAP helps museums strengthen operations, plan for the future, and meet standards through self-study assessment and a consultative site visit from an expert peer reviewer.
WMA has chosen to do a MAP Organizational Assessment to examine its operations and how activities, resources, and mission align with each other, and with professional ethics, practices, and standards. The program’s processes ensure that museums have a solid foundation to build on for long-term health and impact, and this assessment places significant emphasis on thinking, acting, and planning strategically; organizational alignment, capacity; leadership and organizational structure; risk management; and organizational culture. MAP assists museums in defining key areas of operations or functions that need to be strengthened, including facility and financial sustainability.
“We’re incredibly honored to participate in MAP this year, and hope that this process will continue to elevate the work we do to best serve the public. This program will help WMA finalize necessary steps in the national accreditation process, providing us with a roadmap to achieving the highest standards,” said Dana-Marie Lemmer, WMA’s executive director and curator.
“Choosing to be part of the MAP program is indicative of the commitment to civic involvement, public service and overall excellence on the part of the Wiregrass Museum of Art,” said Laura Lott, president of AAM. “Studies have shown America’s museums to be among the country’s most trusted and valued institutions. MAP is designed to make them even better.”
Since its creation in 1981, the MAP program has served over 5,000 museums. MAP is supported through a cooperative agreement between AAM and IMLS. For more information, including a complete list of museums participating in MAP, please visit www.aam-us.org/map, call 202-289-9118 or e-mail map@aam-us.org. The website also has information about museums across the country who have previously participated in MAP and other AAM Excellence Programs, such as Core Document Verification and Accreditation.
About American Alliance of Museums
AAM is the only organization representing the nation’s entire museum community and has been dedicated to promoting excellence within the museum field for over 100 years. For more information about AAM, visit www.aam-us.org. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: http://www.imls.gov.
About Wiregrass Museum of Art
Wiregrass Museum of Art inspires a lifelong appreciation for the visual arts by providing innovative educational programs that engage diverse audiences through the collection and exhibition of quality works. Since its inception in 1987, WMA has offered educational programs, nationally-acclaimed art exhibitions and community events throughout the year. Its Board of Trustees guides the long-term vision and strategic goals, while its membership, City and County support, and grant funding provide the resources needed to fulfill its mission.
WMA’s galleries are open to the public every Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. General admission is always free.