A national honor for the Dubuque Museum of Art. Tuesday officials announced it's been accepted for the Affiliates program of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.
Executive director, David Schmitz, says about 200 art, science, and history museums are members of the program. He calls it a "validation" of the museum and its collection, and a great opportunity to host traveling exhibitions.
He also thinks it will help increase the number of visitors and give a boost to tourism in Dubuque.
Schmitz says applying for the Smithsonian Affiliates program only took about six months, but he thinks it actually took a lot longer.
Other Smithsonian Affiliates include the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, and the Putnam Museum in Davenport.
