EUGENE–The University of Oregon Museum of Art has received the highest honor a museum can receive, says David Robertson, UO Museum of Art director.

Robertson says the museum’s recent re-accreditation by the American Association of Museums certifies that the UO can continue its pre-eminence among the nation’s top museums. The association has awarded accreditation to only 750 of the nation’s 8,000 museums.

"We hope the people of Oregon share our pride in having earned this prestigious honor," Robertson says. "This process was rigorous and demanding, as we examined virtually every aspect of our museum’s operations; a year of self-study and an on-site review by a team of experienced museum professionals was required.

"We invite everyone in our community to help us celebrate this award by visiting the UO Museum of Art and exploring its fine programs and exhibits," he adds.

Accreditation certifies that a museum operates according to standards set forth by the museum profession, manages its collections responsibly and provides quality service to the public. A museum’s accreditation status is among the factors that curators of valuable national and international art collections consider when they book their traveling exhibits.

The UO Museum of Art, founded in 1921, opened its doors at 1430 Johnson Lane in 1932. It is widely recognized for its outstanding collection of Asian art. The collection also contains significant holdings of contemporary art from the Pacific Northwest as well as 19th- and 20th-century European and American art and photography.

Currently on exhibit at the museum through April 9 is "The Realm of Revelation: Vision and Imagination in Later Korean Art." This exhibition of 19th- and 20th-century Korean paintings and screens envisions this world and the next in unexpected ways.

The art museum recently unveiled schematic plans for a $12 million renovation and expansion to nearly double the size of the existing building. The need for this project stems from a period when public participation in the museum has reached an all-time high. Quarterly exhibitions, extended hours, family-targeted activities and educational programming all have contributed to a nearly 40 percent increase in annual visitations since last year.

The University of Oregon Museum of Art is a nonprofit state institution supported by the generosity of its membership and by grants from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Operating funds also are provided by the Horton, Museum of Art, Culp, Krause and Autzen endowments. Additional funding for the current Korean art exhibition was provided by a Lane County Tourism Special Projects Grant.

Accessible to people with disabilities, the Museum of Art is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Suggested admission is $3, except on Wednesday evenings when the MusEvenings! program offers free extended viewing hours from 5 to 8 p.m. Museum members, students, UO employees and children are admitted free.

Accreditation is one of several programs offered by the American Association of Museums to help museums achieve and maintain standards of quality and excellence in the museum profession. The national organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., has served the museum profession since 1906.

For information about the UO Museum of Art, browse http://uoma.uoregon.edu or call (541) 346-3027.

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