The document describes the Museum Excellence Program developed by Museums Alberta. The program enables museums to measure their performance against standards, identify strengths and weaknesses, and work towards excellence. It involves a self-assessment, peer review, and potential recognition. Museums examine operations, governance, collections, community engagement and more. The goal is to help museums improve and demonstrate their commitment to serving the public.

1. Museum Excellence Program
Museums Alberta
Museum Excellence
Program
Information Sheet
Information
To receive an Information Package on the Museum Excellence
Program, please contact Museums Alberta. Museum Excellence
Program publications can be ordered from Museums Alberta.
780 424 2626 Phone
780 425 1679 Fax
excellence@museumsalberta.ab.ca
www.museumsalberta.ab.ca
Acknowledgements
Museums Alberta thanks the hundreds of volunteers both in
Alberta and across Canada, who continue to provide support and
encouragement for the Museum Excellence Program.
Museums Alberta acknowledges the ongoing financial support of the
Alberta Historical Resources Foundation and grant support from the
Museum Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage.
© Copyright Museums Alberta August 2003.
Printed in Canada for free distribution.
“Everyone agreed that the Museum Excellence Program provided us with a
solid self-assessment tool and that, as an institution, we would not have
analyzed our role regarding external and internal communities
in such a thorough and timely fashion without this.”
Cydna Mercer, London Regional Art and Historical Museum (Ontario), 2001
This Pilot Project drew on nationally recognized museum experts
who participated on the Steering Committee, the National
Program Committee, and on Visiting Teams for the Peer Review
Component. Enthusiasm for the Museum Excellence Program
was overwhelming. Based on the support, encouragement and
commitment of members, Museums Alberta continued to
develop the Program.
Background
The Museum Excellence Program is being developed by Museums
Alberta – Alberta’s association of museums and museum
supporters. The Program emerged from years of work by Museums
Alberta in the areas of standards and performance measurement.
Between 1999-2001, with financial support from the Museums
Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage,
Museums Alberta tested the Museum Excellence Program at five
diverse museums across Canada.
Museum Excellence Program Coordinator
Museums Alberta
9829-103 Street
Edmonton, AB
T5K 0X9
MUSEUM
EXCELLENCE
PROGRAM
PROGRAMME
D'EXCELLENCE
POUR LES MUSÉES
MA_Info_Sheet 8/19/03 2:10 PM Page 1

2. Publications
The Program uses three publications:
• Museum Excellence Program Users Manual -
an overview of the Program that explains how participants go
through the Self-Assessment and Peer Review processes.
• Museum Excellence Program Guide and Unit Supplements -
a workbook that leads a museum through the details of the Self-
Assessment process and acts as a tool for the Peer Review Team
during its external assessment of the museum. The Unit
Supplements provide Discussion Questions and Practical
Activities to aid the museum in its institutional self-reflection.
• Standard Practices Handbook for Museums, Second Edition -
a comprehensive resource that details standards and provides
background information on current theory and practice in
museums. The Handbook received the Canadian Museums
Association Award of Outstanding Achievement in Museum
Management for 2001.
Program Units
Based on the Standard Practices Handbook for Museums, the
Museum Excellence Program is organized into four Units:
• Museums and Society examines a museum’s social responsibilities
and how it interacts with its community.
• Administration examines public accountability and how a museum
is governed, managed and resourced.
• Collections examines a museum’s objects and information in
three ways: collections management and development,
conservation, and research.
• Programming examines three highly visible aspects of museum
work: public programs, exhibitions and publications.
Benefits of Participation
Participating in the Museum Excellence Program provides a
museum with the opportunity for:
Encouraging thoughtful reflection from examining institutional
performance as it relates to professional standards and to a
museum’s role in its community.
Increasing community support and partnerships from enhanced
public confidence about how a museum operates and greater
understanding about its contributions to the community.
Improving planning from identifying a museum’s priorities.
Measuring performance from reviewing a museum’s practices,
policies and procedures and ensuring they are meaningful
and effective.
Increasing public recognition from being awarded a Declaration of
Commitment to Excellence.
Program Participation
To enroll in the Museum Excellence Program, museums complete
an Application, demonstrate that they are ready to participate and
receive approval from the Museum Excellence Program Committee.
For each of the four Program Units, there are two parts to
enrollment. The first part is enrollment in the Self-Assessment
Component. The second part is enrollment in the Peer Review
Component. Once museums successfully complete the Peer
Review Component, the Recognition Component of the Program
will take place via the Declaration of Commitment to Excellence.
Alberta museums participating in the Museum Excellence
Program will be supported by a Museum Excellence Program
Coordinator, an On-site Orientation session, the ongoing support
of the Association’s Advisory Services, a Museum Excellence
Program Grant and new Program publications.
Overview
The Museum Excellence Program, developed by Museums Alberta,
is an institutional performance measurement program. It enables
a museum to measure its current performance, identify its strengths
and weaknesses, plan for the future and strive for excellence.
The Museum Excellence Program uses guidelines, standards, and
practical evidence as a basis for reflecting on museum performance.
Performance is analyzed both internally in relation to standards of
museum practice, and externally in terms of the social role that
the museum plays in its community.
Program Description
The Museum Excellence Program has three Components:
Self-Assessment: a museum reviews the standards and
performance criteria for a chosen Unit, examines and reflects
on the quality of its own practice, completes a practical activity,
and compiles documentary evidence indicating conformity to
those standards.
Peer Review: a two-member team of nationally recognized museum
experts reviews documentation forwarded by the museum,
conducts an on-site consultation and assessment, analyzes the
museum’s practices, and prepares a final report for the museum
and the Museum Excellence Program Committee.
Recognition: upon review of the Self-Assessment and the Peer
Review Components, and if endorsed by the Museum
Excellence Program Committee, the museum may receive a
Declaration of Commitment to Excellence for each Unit it
successfully completes.
"The use of a dual assessment system (both self-assessment and peer
assessment) creates a motivating and supportive environment for the
improvement of operations within museums."
Douglas Worts, Art Gallery of Ontario, 2001
MA_Info_Sheet 8/19/03 2:10 PM Page 2

3. Publications
The Program uses three publications:
• Museum Excellence Program Users Manual -
an overview of the Program that explains how participants go
through the Self-Assessment and Peer Review processes.
• Museum Excellence Program Guide and Unit Supplements -
a workbook that leads a museum through the details of the Self-
Assessment process and acts as a tool for the Peer Review Team
during its external assessment of the museum. The Unit
Supplements provide Discussion Questions and Practical
Activities to aid the museum in its institutional self-reflection.
• Standard Practices Handbook for Museums, Second Edition -
a comprehensive resource that details standards and provides
background information on current theory and practice in
museums. The Handbook received the Canadian Museums
Association Award of Outstanding Achievement in Museum
Management for 2001.
Program Units
Based on the Standard Practices Handbook for Museums, the
Museum Excellence Program is organized into four Units:
• Museums and Society examines a museum’s social responsibilities
and how it interacts with its community.
• Administration examines public accountability and how a museum
is governed, managed and resourced.
• Collections examines a museum’s objects and information in
three ways: collections management and development,
conservation, and research.
• Programming examines three highly visible aspects of museum
work: public programs, exhibitions and publications.
Benefits of Participation
Participating in the Museum Excellence Program provides a
museum with the opportunity for:
Encouraging thoughtful reflection from examining institutional
performance as it relates to professional standards and to a
museum’s role in its community.
Increasing community support and partnerships from enhanced
public confidence about how a museum operates and greater
understanding about its contributions to the community.
Improving planning from identifying a museum’s priorities.
Measuring performance from reviewing a museum’s practices,
policies and procedures and ensuring they are meaningful
and effective.
Increasing public recognition from being awarded a Declaration of
Commitment to Excellence.
Program Participation
To enroll in the Museum Excellence Program, museums complete
an Application, demonstrate that they are ready to participate and
receive approval from the Museum Excellence Program Committee.
For each of the four Program Units, there are two parts to
enrollment. The first part is enrollment in the Self-Assessment
Component. The second part is enrollment in the Peer Review
Component. Once museums successfully complete the Peer
Review Component, the Recognition Component of the Program
will take place via the Declaration of Commitment to Excellence.
Alberta museums participating in the Museum Excellence
Program will be supported by a Museum Excellence Program
Coordinator, an On-site Orientation session, the ongoing support
of the Association’s Advisory Services, a Museum Excellence
Program Grant and new Program publications.
Overview
The Museum Excellence Program, developed by Museums Alberta,
is an institutional performance measurement program. It enables
a museum to measure its current performance, identify its strengths
and weaknesses, plan for the future and strive for excellence.
The Museum Excellence Program uses guidelines, standards, and
practical evidence as a basis for reflecting on museum performance.
Performance is analyzed both internally in relation to standards of
museum practice, and externally in terms of the social role that
the museum plays in its community.
Program Description
The Museum Excellence Program has three Components:
Self-Assessment: a museum reviews the standards and
performance criteria for a chosen Unit, examines and reflects
on the quality of its own practice, completes a practical activity,
and compiles documentary evidence indicating conformity to
those standards.
Peer Review: a two-member team of nationally recognized museum
experts reviews documentation forwarded by the museum,
conducts an on-site consultation and assessment, analyzes the
museum’s practices, and prepares a final report for the museum
and the Museum Excellence Program Committee.
Recognition: upon review of the Self-Assessment and the Peer
Review Components, and if endorsed by the Museum
Excellence Program Committee, the museum may receive a
Declaration of Commitment to Excellence for each Unit it
successfully completes.
"The use of a dual assessment system (both self-assessment and peer
assessment) creates a motivating and supportive environment for the
improvement of operations within museums."
Douglas Worts, Art Gallery of Ontario, 2001
MA_Info_Sheet 8/19/03 2:10 PM Page 2

4. Publications
The Program uses three publications:
• Museum Excellence Program Users Manual -
an overview of the Program that explains how participants go
through the Self-Assessment and Peer Review processes.
• Museum Excellence Program Guide and Unit Supplements -
a workbook that leads a museum through the details of the Self-
Assessment process and acts as a tool for the Peer Review Team
during its external assessment of the museum. The Unit
Supplements provide Discussion Questions and Practical
Activities to aid the museum in its institutional self-reflection.
• Standard Practices Handbook for Museums, Second Edition -
a comprehensive resource that details standards and provides
background information on current theory and practice in
museums. The Handbook received the Canadian Museums
Association Award of Outstanding Achievement in Museum
Management for 2001.
Program Units
Based on the Standard Practices Handbook for Museums, the
Museum Excellence Program is organized into four Units:
• Museums and Society examines a museum’s social responsibilities
and how it interacts with its community.
• Administration examines public accountability and how a museum
is governed, managed and resourced.
• Collections examines a museum’s objects and information in
three ways: collections management and development,
conservation, and research.
• Programming examines three highly visible aspects of museum
work: public programs, exhibitions and publications.
Benefits of Participation
Participating in the Museum Excellence Program provides a
museum with the opportunity for:
Encouraging thoughtful reflection from examining institutional
performance as it relates to professional standards and to a
museum’s role in its community.
Increasing community support and partnerships from enhanced
public confidence about how a museum operates and greater
understanding about its contributions to the community.
Improving planning from identifying a museum’s priorities.
Measuring performance from reviewing a museum’s practices,
policies and procedures and ensuring they are meaningful
and effective.
Increasing public recognition from being awarded a Declaration of
Commitment to Excellence.
Program Participation
To enroll in the Museum Excellence Program, museums complete
an Application, demonstrate that they are ready to participate and
receive approval from the Museum Excellence Program Committee.
For each of the four Program Units, there are two parts to
enrollment. The first part is enrollment in the Self-Assessment
Component. The second part is enrollment in the Peer Review
Component. Once museums successfully complete the Peer
Review Component, the Recognition Component of the Program
will take place via the Declaration of Commitment to Excellence.
Alberta museums participating in the Museum Excellence
Program will be supported by a Museum Excellence Program
Coordinator, an On-site Orientation session, the ongoing support
of the Association’s Advisory Services, a Museum Excellence
Program Grant and new Program publications.
Overview
The Museum Excellence Program, developed by Museums Alberta,
is an institutional performance measurement program. It enables
a museum to measure its current performance, identify its strengths
and weaknesses, plan for the future and strive for excellence.
The Museum Excellence Program uses guidelines, standards, and
practical evidence as a basis for reflecting on museum performance.
Performance is analyzed both internally in relation to standards of
museum practice, and externally in terms of the social role that
the museum plays in its community.
Program Description
The Museum Excellence Program has three Components:
Self-Assessment: a museum reviews the standards and
performance criteria for a chosen Unit, examines and reflects
on the quality of its own practice, completes a practical activity,
and compiles documentary evidence indicating conformity to
those standards.
Peer Review: a two-member team of nationally recognized museum
experts reviews documentation forwarded by the museum,
conducts an on-site consultation and assessment, analyzes the
museum’s practices, and prepares a final report for the museum
and the Museum Excellence Program Committee.
Recognition: upon review of the Self-Assessment and the Peer
Review Components, and if endorsed by the Museum
Excellence Program Committee, the museum may receive a
Declaration of Commitment to Excellence for each Unit it
successfully completes.
"The use of a dual assessment system (both self-assessment and peer
assessment) creates a motivating and supportive environment for the
improvement of operations within museums."
Douglas Worts, Art Gallery of Ontario, 2001
MA_Info_Sheet 8/19/03 2:10 PM Page 2

5. Museum Excellence Program
Museums Alberta
Museum Excellence
Program
Information Sheet
Information
To receive an Information Package on the Museum Excellence
Program, please contact Museums Alberta. Museum Excellence
Program publications can be ordered from Museums Alberta.
780 424 2626 Phone
780 425 1679 Fax
excellence@museumsalberta.ab.ca
www.museumsalberta.ab.ca
Acknowledgements
Museums Alberta thanks the hundreds of volunteers both in
Alberta and across Canada, who continue to provide support and
encouragement for the Museum Excellence Program.
Museums Alberta acknowledges the ongoing financial support of the
Alberta Historical Resources Foundation and grant support from the
Museum Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage.
© Copyright Museums Alberta August 2003.
Printed in Canada for free distribution.
“Everyone agreed that the Museum Excellence Program provided us with a
solid self-assessment tool and that, as an institution, we would not have
analyzed our role regarding external and internal communities
in such a thorough and timely fashion without this.”
Cydna Mercer, London Regional Art and Historical Museum (Ontario), 2001
This Pilot Project drew on nationally recognized museum experts
who participated on the Steering Committee, the National
Program Committee, and on Visiting Teams for the Peer Review
Component. Enthusiasm for the Museum Excellence Program
was overwhelming. Based on the support, encouragement and
commitment of members, Museums Alberta continued to
develop the Program.
Background
The Museum Excellence Program is being developed by Museums
Alberta – Alberta’s association of museums and museum
supporters. The Program emerged from years of work by Museums
Alberta in the areas of standards and performance measurement.
Between 1999-2001, with financial support from the Museums
Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage,
Museums Alberta tested the Museum Excellence Program at five
diverse museums across Canada.
Museum Excellence Program Coordinator
Museums Alberta
9829-103 Street
Edmonton, AB
T5K 0X9
MUSEUM
EXCELLENCE
PROGRAM
PROGRAMME
D'EXCELLENCE
POUR LES MUSÉES
MA_Info_Sheet 8/19/03 2:10 PM Page 1

6. Museum Excellence Program
Museums Alberta
Museum Excellence
Program
Information Sheet
Information
To receive an Information Package on the Museum Excellence
Program, please contact Museums Alberta. Museum Excellence
Program publications can be ordered from Museums Alberta.
780 424 2626 Phone
780 425 1679 Fax
excellence@museumsalberta.ab.ca
www.museumsalberta.ab.ca
Acknowledgements
Museums Alberta thanks the hundreds of volunteers both in
Alberta and across Canada, who continue to provide support and
encouragement for the Museum Excellence Program.
Museums Alberta acknowledges the ongoing financial support of the
Alberta Historical Resources Foundation and grant support from the
Museum Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage.
© Copyright Museums Alberta August 2003.
Printed in Canada for free distribution.
“Everyone agreed that the Museum Excellence Program provided us with a
solid self-assessment tool and that, as an institution, we would not have
analyzed our role regarding external and internal communities
in such a thorough and timely fashion without this.”
Cydna Mercer, London Regional Art and Historical Museum (Ontario), 2001
This Pilot Project drew on nationally recognized museum experts
who participated on the Steering Committee, the National
Program Committee, and on Visiting Teams for the Peer Review
Component. Enthusiasm for the Museum Excellence Program
was overwhelming. Based on the support, encouragement and
commitment of members, Museums Alberta continued to
develop the Program.
Background
The Museum Excellence Program is being developed by Museums
Alberta – Alberta’s association of museums and museum
supporters. The Program emerged from years of work by Museums
Alberta in the areas of standards and performance measurement.
Between 1999-2001, with financial support from the Museums
Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage,
Museums Alberta tested the Museum Excellence Program at five
diverse museums across Canada.
Museum Excellence Program Coordinator
Museums Alberta
9829-103 Street
Edmonton, AB
T5K 0X9
MUSEUM
EXCELLENCE
PROGRAM
PROGRAMME
D'EXCELLENCE
POUR LES MUSÉES
MA_Info_Sheet 8/19/03 2:10 PM Page 1