Association of Art Museum Directors: Mission Statement

Mission

The purpose of the Association of Art Museum Directors is to support its members in increasing the contribution of art museums to society. The AAMD accomplishes this mission by establishing and maintaining the highest standards of professional practice; serving as forum for the exchange of information and ideas; acting as an advocate for its member art museums; and being a leader in shaping public discourse about the arts community and the role of art in society.

Members

Membership consists of persons who serve as directors of art museums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico which, by purpose, size, and standards of operation meet the eligibility requirements established by the Trustees of the Association. Membership in the Association is based on the qualifications of both the individual director and the specific art museum and no museum may be represented by more than one individual. The Association currently has 221 members.

About Membership

Membership is open to persons who serve as directors of art museums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico which by purpose and standards of operation meet the eligibility requirements established by the Trustees of the Association.

The term "director" is here used to designate that officer who has ultimate responsibility for the works of art owned by or lent to the museum, including jurisdiction over their acquisition, exhibition, preservation, study, and interpretation. Eligible individuals will be professionally qualified for their positions by a sufficient combination of art historical training, museum experience, demonstrated ability and adherence to the Code of Ethics of the Association.

The term "art museum" is here used to designate non-profit institutions primarily concerned with the exhibition of works of art and a professional staff.

Membership in the Association is based on the qualifications of both the individual director and the specific art museum and no museum may be represented by more than one individual.

In order to start the membership process, please send a letter addressed to AAMD's executive director expressing the desire to join the Association, along with your resume or CV. Please send the letter to awade@aamd.org.

All applications are reviewed by the Membership Committee and recommendations are made to the Board of Trustees, with election to membership made by that body. The Membership Committee usually only meets twice a year and therefore, the membership process can take some time.

Code of Ethics

A PDF copy of Professional Practices in Art Museums is available here free of charge

Adopted by the membership of the AAMD, June 1966; amended 1971, 1973, 1974, 1991, 2001, and 2011.

The position of a museum director is one of trust. The director will act with integrity and in accordance with the highest ethical principles. The director will avoid any and all activities that could compromise his/her position or the institution. The professional integrity of the director should set a standard for the staff. A museum director is obligated to implement the policy of the governing board for the benefit of the institution and the public. The director is responsible for ensuring that the institution adopt and disseminate a code of ethics for the museum board, staff, and volunteers.

It is unprofessional for a museum director to use his or her influence or position for personal gain. A director shall not deal in works of art or be party to the recommendation for purchase by museums or collectors of works of art in which the director has any undisclosed financial interest. The director shall not accept any commission or compromising gift from any seller or buyer of works of art.

If the director collects art, extraordinary discretion is required to assure that no conflict of interest arises between the director's personal collecting activity and the concerns of the museum. If there is perception of a conflict, the museum's governing board should be granted first option in acquiring for the museum the work or works in question. Gifts of works of art to the director by artists whose work is or may be shown or acquired by the museum can compromise the position of the director and of the institution and should be accepted only in special circumstances and with full disclosure. In such cases where there is the possibility of a perception of conflict of interest, the museum's governing board must be granted first option to accept these gifts for the museum. (Also see Paragraph 26, p. xx.; and Appendix B, III-E, p. xx).

A museum director shall not provide-for a fee or on a retainer-any certificate or statement as to the authenticity or authorship of a work of art, or any statement of the monetary value of a work of art.

A museum director should not knowingly acquire or allow to be recommended for acquisition any object that has been stolen, removed in contravention of treaties or international conventions to which the United States is a signatory, or illegally imported in the United States.

A museum director shall not dispose of accessioned works of art in order to provide funds for purposes other than acquisitions of works of art for the collection (in accordance with Paragraph 25, p. xx).

AAMD members who violate this code of ethics will be subject to discipline by reprimand, suspension, or expulsion from the Association. Infractions by any art museum may expose that institution to sanctions, such as suspension of loans and shared exhibitions by AAMD members.

Values

The Association of Art Museum Directors believes in the power of art and the responsibility of art museums to serve and educate the public through collection, research, preservation, exhibition, and the advancement of knowledge about works of art. The AAMD is guided by a set of values that form the foundation from which its members carry out their professional responsibilities. These values are the basis for the services AAMD provides to its members and, through them, to the general public.

Commitment to Mission: AAMD's members are dedicated, first and foremost, to the fulfillment of their museums' missions to serve the public through art and art education.

Professional Practice: AAMD's members are committed to establishing and upholding the highest standards of professional practice and ethical conduct.

Professional Support: AAMD's members are committed to promoting an atmosphere of mutual support, respect, engagement and learning within the art museum community. It is through the exchange of ideas, information and experiences that best practices are further improved, and that common issues and challenges are best addressed.

The Public Trust: AAMD's members hold their collections in public trust. Commensurate with this responsibility and recognizing their accountability to their institutional missions, their trustees, and their communities, AAMD's members perform their professional duties with honesty, integrity, and transparency.

AAMD and its members are also guided by these fundamental principles:

Artistic Excellence: AAMD members are committed to the highest standards in selecting and presenting works of art.

Education: AAMD's members are committed to encouraging curiosity and increasing knowledge about art, and to excellence in art education.

Artistic Expression: AAMD's members believe that art museums play a constructive role in society and that art conveys the rich complexity of human experience. AAMD's members champion a breadth of artistic expression and the role that art museums play in exploring diverse artistic perspectives.

Diversity: AAMD's members are committed to fostering diversity - in their governing authorities and staff, among the individuals within or entering into the art museum profession, in the perspectives reflected in their museums' collections and programs, and in the range of audiences they serve.

Outreach & Community Service: AAMD's members are committed to providing the broadest possible audience with accessible and engaging artistic experiences and to being responsive to the needs of their respective communities.

Governance

AAMD is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of 21 members.

Committees

AAMD maintains seven committees which are:

Art Issues Committee: The mission of the Committee is to aid AAMD's members in fulfilling their responsibilities to the art worksin their care; to artists; and to the public, in whose interest they preserve, collect, study, and interpret these works. This mission includes helping AAMD serve as a forum for discussions related to these issues and fulfill its role as an organization that sets professional standards and examines issues related to the appropriate care, development and management of collections. The Committee will set specific goals in conjunction with or at the request of the Board of Trustees, and will work with other AAMD Committees to help develop programs for members, as well as to address members' art-related issues as needed.

Education and Community Issues Committee: The mission of the Committee is to help AAMD and its members address education, audience, and community service issues, in conjunction with or at the request of the Board of Trustees. The Committee will keep AAMD's members informed of best practices and new approaches in the areas of museum education, audience outreach, and community service; it will disseminate this information to the membership or coordinate with other Committees to do so. The Committee also will support AAMD in promoting museums as institutions that provide innovative lifelong learning experiences, respond to their audiences, and address a variety of community needs. It will fill this role by coordinating with the Public Affairs Committee on public communications initiatives, or by providing information directly to AAMD's members to aid their individual work.

Government Affairs Committee: The mission of the Committee is to oversee AAMD's government-related initiatives, including: monitoring national legislative and regulatory issues of importance to the organization, its members, and the profession; as appropriate, organizing public advocacy campaigns regarding these issues; and representing AAMD to legislative and regulatory communities. In conjunction with AAMD's staff, the Committee will set specific goals in conjunction with or at the request of the Board of Trustees, including recommendations regarding key issues to monitor and the launch of potential advocacy campaigns. The Committee and staff will communicate actively with AAMD's members about issues that may affect their institutions or communities. It will also work with the organization's other Committees as appropriate.

Membership Committee The mission of the Committee is to review membership applications and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding the selection of new members. In conjunction with or at the request of the Board, the Committee will also periodically review AAMD's criteria for individual and institutional membership; review application templates and membership materials; and support new member orientation programs to educate members about AAMD's policies and benefits.

Professional Issues Committee: The mission of the Committee is to support AAMD in advancing and maintaining the highest standards of professional practice for its members and for the art museum field, in conjunction with or at the request of the Board of Trustees. Included in its responsibilities are the ongoing review and updating of AAMD's standards and guidelines; providing support to the Board in establishing and upholding these standards; and organizing professional development programs for members, mentoring programs for new members, and other programs to encourage qualified individuals to enter the art museum profession. The Committee will also coordinate AAMD's relationships with other professional organizations representing the art museum community.

Program Committee: The mission of the Committee is to plan programs for AAMD's Annual and Midwinter meetings that are timely, substantive, and relevant to the broad range of AAMD members. In conjunction with or at the request of the Board of Trustees, the Committee will set the focus of each meeting and identify program topics, speakers, and formats, for final approval by the Board. With the support of the AAMD staff, the Committee Chair and Co-Chairs will oversee the planning and implementation of these programs. The Committee will draw on the expertise of AAMD members and consult with other AAMD Committees in developing meeting workshops, program sessions, and panel discussions. The Committee will also identify program topics that may be of interest or importance for audiences beyond AAMD and propose these to the Board as possible subjects for white papers or other external communications.

Public Affairs Committee: The mission of the Committee is to develop strategy for and oversee the shaping of AAMD's public profile and its communications to the media. The Committee will set specific goals in conjunction with or at the request of the Board of Trustees; make recommendations to the Board regarding publicly-stated positions on matters pertaining to the profession; assist in the development of public statements or press materials in consultation with all appropriate Committees, the Board, staff, and any consultants; and review such statements prepared by other AAMD Committees or the Board to ensure consistency in messages and positioning. At the request of the Board, the Committee may be called upon to develop public statements or white papers, participate in press briefings and be available as representatives of the Association. In addition, the Committee will collaborate with other AAMD Committees on programming for future meetings, and on the public communications aspects of AAMD initiatives.

Conferences

The Annual and Midwinter conferences provide the opportunity for directors to explore art historical topics as well as seminars and programs on professional development and museum management. The meetings are hosted by AAMD institutions and sites are determined a few years in advance. Typically, the Midwinter meeting is at the end of January and the Annual meeting is at the beginning of June.

History

In 1916 the directors of twelve American museums founded the Association of Art Museum Directors. The Association began its transformation into a professional organization in 1969 when it formally incorporated. At that time the Association also hired an employee, and increased the meetings from once to twice a year. AAMD's charter members were motivated by a desire to create an intimate forum to share news and ideas. The AAMD has maintained a limited membership bringing the directors into closer contact with their peers at a wide variety of leading art institutions.