The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (NMPRAC) in Chicago has been awarded accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for museums in the United States. This distinction places the museum among fewer than 1,100 accredited institutions nationwide and marks it as only the fourth museum dedicated to Latino, Chicano, or Latin American art to receive this honor, joining the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, and the Museo de las Américas in Denver.
Michael D. Nieves, President and CEO of HITN and a member of the NMPRAC Board of Directors, said, “This accreditation is a powerful affirmation of the museum’s commitment to preserving Puerto Rico’s rich cultural heritage for future generations. It reflects decades of dedication, vision, and hard work by the museum’s staff and leadership.” He also acknowledged the board members for their unwavering commitment.
The accreditation process evaluates museums on governance, collections stewardship, education, financial sustainability, and public service. Billy Ocasio, President and CEO of NMPRAC, emphasized the significance of the achievement: “We have worked for this moment since our inception 26 years ago, knowing that everything we did would hopefully lead to this historic milestone. This accreditation belongs to the generations of community members who believed Puerto Rican stories deserved a permanent national home.”
Housed in the historic Humboldt Park Stables in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood, the NMPRAC is the only national museum outside of Puerto Rico dedicated to interpreting, preserving, and promoting Puerto Rican arts and culture. Founded in 2000, it is now the first Puerto Rican museum to receive AAM accreditation. The museum’s executive director noted that what began as a community effort to preserve its space and tell its own story has grown into a national institution.
HITN, the nation’s leading Spanish-language public media network, congratulated the museum on this milestone. HITN and NMPRAC share a commitment to serving Hispanic communities through educational and cultural initiatives that preserve heritage and elevate Latino voices. For more information about the museum, visit nmprac.org.
The accreditation underscores the growing recognition of Hispanic contributions to the cultural fabric of the United States. As Ocasio stated, “This belongs not only to us, but to future generations. We are only beginning.”
