MASON CITY — The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum has once again earned the highest national recognition available to an American museum, keeping the Mason City institution among a select group meeting the country’s most demanding professional standards.
The museum received reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, an honor signifying excellence, accountability, responsible stewardship of artwork and continued institutional improvement.
Of an estimated 33,000 museums across the United States, only about 1,100 are accredited by the alliance. The MacNider is one of just 33 accredited museums in Iowa.
“I am so very pleased the Charles H. MacNider Museum is once again accredited,” Museum Director Edith Blanchard said. “The Museum takes its care of artwork in public trust very seriously and strives to the highest professional standards.”
Blanchard said the recognition reflects the dedication of the museum’s staff, Board of Trustees, Mason City Council and the surrounding community.
The MacNider has been continuously accredited since 1978. Museums must complete a reaccreditation review every 10 years to maintain the distinction.
Rigorous review examines entire operation
Accreditation is not based on a single exhibition, collection or program. The review examines virtually every aspect of a museum’s operation.
The MacNider first completed a yearlong self-study evaluating its policies, collections, finances, governance, educational programs, facilities and service to the public.
A team of museum professionals then visited Mason City to examine the institution firsthand. The self-study and visiting committee’s findings were submitted to the American Alliance of Museums’ Accreditation Commission, an independent body of museum professionals responsible for determining whether accreditation should be granted.
“Accreditation is a monumental achievement,” American Alliance of Museums President and CEO Marilyn Jackson said. “The process demonstrates an institution’s commitment to best practice.”
The visiting committee was particularly impressed with the MacNider’s adherence to professional standards in caring for the museum’s artwork and collections.
Reviewers also praised the museum’s community education programs, classes, regional outreach and partnerships with other North Iowa nonprofit organizations.
MacNider’s community work receives praise
The museum’s fully operational art and ceramics studios distinguish it from many institutions of comparable size. The studios allow the MacNider to provide hands-on classes in addition to traditional exhibitions and gallery experiences.
Its educational outreach extends into a nine-county region — a service territory reviewers noted is larger than that of many similarly sized museums.
The museum’s work has included specialized educational opportunities such as a free art class offered in connection with a traveling exhibition about dementia and free puppet performances for North Iowa schools and daycare programs.
The museum also provides exhibition opportunities for regional artists.
Earlier this year, the 46th Annual Cerro Gordo Photo Show brought work from North Iowa photographers into the museum. The competition ultimately produced a Best in Show honor for Clear Lake photographer Brad Janson.
Other recent programming included the museum’s “What’s a Lithograph?” exhibition, which helped visitors understand the artistic process behind prints held in the museum’s collection.
The MacNider is also home to significant works by Iowa artist Grant Wood. Its collection includes all 19 lithographs Wood created during his career. Wood completed his final paintings from a studio in Clear Lake before his death in 1942.
Recognition signals public trust
Alliance accreditation tells visitors, donors, government agencies and other museums that an institution has demonstrated proper care of its collection and responsible management of the artwork held in public trust.
It can also strengthen a museum’s ability to pursue grants, develop partnerships and borrow significant works from other institutions.
The American Alliance of Museums has represented and supported the museum field since 1906. Its membership reaches beyond traditional art and history museums to include science centers, zoos and other cultural institutions.
The organization provides advocacy, professional standards, educational resources and connections for museum employees and volunteers across the country.
The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum is located at 303 Second Street SE in Mason City. Admission is free.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and Mondays.