Bedfordtimesregister.com - Stan Hywet Hall receives museum accreditation

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens has again achieved accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded our nation's museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community as well as government agencies, funders, other non-profits and the museum-going public.

"We are proud to be among a very small group of museums in this country that are accredited by AAM," said Linda Conrad, president and executive director. "It is an acknowledgement of all the hard work by the board, staff and volunteers and shows that our commitment to excellence is unwavering."

Being an accredited museum is a select group. Of the nation's estimated 17,500 museums, 776 are currently accredited. Stan Hywet is one of only 25 museums accredited in the state of Ohio. To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, 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. While the time to complete the process varies by museum, it generally takes as much as three years. For Stan Hywet, the process took three years.

AAM 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 35 years, AAM'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.

Stan Hywet was initially accredited in 2000. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status. "By achieving re-accreditation, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens has again demonstrated that it not only meets, but far exceeds the highest standards for U.S. museums," said AAM president Ford W. Bell. "This museum embodies excellence, in all that it does, and is a jewel in the crown of Akron's museum community."

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is the former home of F.A. Seiberling (founder of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company) and his family. Open Tuesday through Sunday from April to December, Stan Hywet includes a 65-room Tudor Revival Manor House, Gate Lodge, conservatory and more than 70 acres of historic gardens and grounds. At 65,000 square feet, it is the sixth largest home open to the public in the U.S. It is Akron's only National Historic Landmark.