Phipps Conservatory Receives Highest National Recognition
For Immediate Release: Wed., July 28
Contact: Joe Reed | Director of Marketing and Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org
Phipps Conservatory Receives Highest National Recognition
Phipps Has Been Awarded Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums
Pittsburgh, PA – Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders and outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.
“Phipps has demonstrated a high degree of adaptability and resiliency, evolving over the years into a respected, high level research and environmental education institution that is also a beloved community space,” says Alliance Accreditation Commission Chair Evans Richardson. “Steady leadership with a strong team dedicated to research, education, collections and public engagement has contributed to the garden’s success.”
Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. To earn accreditation, Phipps had to conduct a year of self-study and then undergo analysis by a team of peer reviewers, who assessed the garden’s performance across a variety of categories including operations, education, public service, collections stewardship, planning and organizational health.
“Phipps is honored to achieve accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, which recognizes our staff’s dedication to sustaining Phipps’ 128-year legacy of excellence,” says Phipps President and CEO Richard Piacentini. “As our institution continues to evolve, this accreditation is an important milestone recognizing Phipps’ commitment to fulfilling our mission — to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse — at the highest standards possible.”
Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, over 1,070 are currently accredited. Phipps is one of only 35 museums accredited in Pennsylvania and one of only eight accredited public gardens in the U.S.
“The accreditation process demonstrates that Phipps is publicly committed to upholding the museum field’s high professional standards,” says Laura L. Lott, president and CEO of AAM.
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About the American Alliance of Museums: The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.
About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.
Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.
Photo © Paul g. Wiegman
