PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Mütter Museum is beginning the long process of becoming an accredited cultural institution.
The museum was invited to participate in the American Alliance of Museums’ nationally recognized Museum Assessment Program (MAP). Accreditation helps institutions earn recognition for their commitment to professional standards in education, public service and collections care.
“It’s really important with collections like ours, which contain human remains, to have these opportunities to access functions and to take a look at the collections that are in our care and to make sure that we are doing best by them and for our community,” said Kate Quinn, executive director of the Mütter Museum and the historical medical library at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
The Mütter Museum in Center City houses an extensive collection of anatomical specimens, models and medical instruments. The entire accreditation process could take approximately three years to complete in all.
“With assessments such as this one through the American Alliance of Museums, you can go through some checks and balances to make sure you are following best practices with museum practice, with library practice, with collections stewardship, with general operations and community engagement overall,” Quinn explained.
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The museum is currently conducting its own operations review. A peer museum will then compare operations with national standards. After about a year, the Mütter Museum could then be invited to apply for accreditation, which could take two years.
“It’s my sincere hope that we will become an accredited institution by the year 2026,” said Quinn.