The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (NMPRAC) in Chicago has earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for museums in the United States. The announcement was made by HITN, the leading Spanish-language public media network, whose President and CEO Michael D. Nieves serves on the NMPRAC Board of Directors.
This distinction places NMPRAC among a select group of accredited institutions dedicated to preserving Hispanic arts, history, and culture. Fewer than 1,100 museums nationwide hold AAM accreditation, which recognizes excellence in governance, collections stewardship, education, financial sustainability, and public service. NMPRAC becomes only the fourth Latino, Chicano, or Latin American art museum in the country to receive this accreditation, joining the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, and Museo de las Américas in Denver.
“This accreditation is a powerful affirmation of the museum’s commitment to preserving Puerto Rico’s rich cultural heritage for future generations,” said Michael D. Nieves, President and CEO of HITN and a member of the NMPRAC Board of Directors. “It reflects decades of dedication, vision, and hard work by the museum’s staff and leadership.”
Billy Ocasio, President and CEO of NMPRAC, emphasized the community effort behind the milestone. “We have worked for this moment since our inception 26 years ago, knowing that everything we did would hopefully lead to this historic milestone,” Ocasio said. “This accreditation belongs to the generations of community members who believed Puerto Rican stories deserved a permanent national home.”
HITN and NMPRAC share a longstanding commitment to serving Hispanic communities through educational and cultural initiatives. The museum’s accreditation marks a significant milestone not only for the institution but also for the broader effort to recognize the contributions of Puerto Ricans and other Hispanic communities to the cultural fabric of the United States.
Located in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, NMPRAC is the first AAM-accredited Puerto Rican museum and the only national museum outside of Puerto Rico dedicated to interpreting the arts and culture of the Puerto Rican people. Founded in 2000, it operates in the historic Humboldt Park Stables and Receptory. For more information, visit https://nmprac.org/.
