American Alliance of Museums
Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum is proud to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), a distinction only earned by approximately 3% of museums nationwide. Accreditation is the highest national recognition afforded to a museum in the United States and affirms our organization’s continued commitment to excellence, access and impact.
What Accreditation Means
Accreditation from the AAM affirms that The Baker Museum continually upholds the highest professional standards in the field, signaling to visitors, donors, partners and peers that the museum is committed to excellence, transparency and enduring institutional growth.
But accreditation is not just a mark of distinction. It strengthens our position to attract high-profile exhibitions, secure grant funding, deepen community partnerships and expand access to our programs. And it demonstrates that we meet national standards while continuing to grow thoughtfully and sustainably in pursuit of our mission.
A Commitment to Excellence
Accreditation from the AAM is a rigorous but rewarding process that evaluates all areas of a museum’s operations, from education and collections stewardship to governance, planning and community engagement. Opened in 2000, The Baker Museum began laying the groundwork for its accreditation years ago. The challenges posed by Hurricane Irma in 2017 spurred an ambitious repair and expansion project, undertaken as part of the Future—Forward Campaign for Cultural Excellence, which concluded in May 2023. The experience also led to the development of the revised Artis—Naples Emergency Preparedness and Action Plan, adopted in September 2023 to ensure the well-being of all staff, artworks and facilities.
A comprehensive site visit and institutional review in late 2024 culminated in Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum officially receiving accreditation at the AAM Accreditation Commission meeting in February 2025.
Distinction Across Disciplines
The Baker Museum is a vital part of the multidisciplinary mission of Artis—Naples, which brings together the visual and performing arts. This collaborative model enriches our exhibitions and programming, fostering dynamic connections between art, music, dance, film, education and beyond. During the accreditation process, the visiting AAM team recognized this multidisciplinary approach — as well as our strong institutional commitment to community engagement — as a defining strength of the organization.
A Milestone for Southwest Florida
Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum is honored to serve Southwest Florida as a nationally accredited museum and is proud to represent Collier County as its first and only accredited museum of any kind. This milestone reflects the dedication of our staff, the leadership of our board and the steadfast support of the community. It also stands as a poignant reminder of our broader purpose: a commitment to upholding the highest standards in all that we do — and to continue enriching lives through the arts for generations to come.
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