Waterworks Visual Arts Center is nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Accreditation is the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. Waterworks Visual Arts Center has been accredited since 1999.

Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for over fifty years, the Alliance’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable to provide the best possible service to the public.

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100 are currently accredited. Waterworks Visual Arts Center is one of only 14 art museums accredited in North Carolina. 

Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. It is a monumental achievement and demonstrates our commitment to best practices.