ARLINGTON, TEXAS.- As the Arlington Museum of Art nears completion this fall on a one million dollar renovation to make it’s 1950’s era facility more functional, accessible and inviting, it has also been provided with a unique opportunity to take the pulse of the public on its programs, exhibitions and even its visibility.

The museum has been awarded a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), that will assist it in undertaking the Museum Assessment Program, Public Dimension Assessment (MAP III), developed and administered by the American Association of Museums (AAM).  AAM is a leading source of standards and best practices for museums, and both its Museum Assessment Program and Museum Accreditation Program are designed to offer museums ways to engage in ongoing institutional improvement.

The Museum Assessment Program (MAP) offers four assessments to advance a museum’s accountability and service to the public: Institutional Assessment, Collections Management Assessment, Governance Assessment, and the Public Dimension Assessment.

The Arlington Museum of Art has previously completed the Institutional Assessment, and will now undertake the Public Dimension Assessment.  Says museum director Anne Allen,  "The museum will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary in 2004, and that, coupled with the completion of our million-dollar renovation, makes it an ideal time to talk with the public and find out how we’re doing.  We want to know what we can do to better reach Arlington and the Metroplex. Our desire is to grow visitorship and membership across the region and around the state. So with the help of an Assessment Team, over the next few months we will be taking the museum through a period of self-study that will include public activities, such as focus groups, surveys and public forums, to help us better understand how we’re perceived, what our visitors enjoy most about the museum, what they’d enjoy seeing us addŠall of which will assist us in planning the direction we should take with new classes, programs and membership benefits."

The Public Dimension Assessment also includes a site visit from a museum professional from outside the region.  The museum expects to complete the entire MAP III Public Dimension Assessment by April, 2005. Recommendations and findings will be incorporated into the museum’s long-range planning.  The museum’s Assessment Team is composed of staff, board members, volunteers and community leaders.   Public activities will be conducted this fall and winter.  Anyone who would like to participate in these activities should call museum director Anne Allen at (817) 275-4600.