Founded in 1977, The Art Museum at Florida International University (MMC/FIU) started as a student gallery. Since then, it has grown to achieve official recognition as a major cultural institution of the State of Florida for its unprecedented collection of Latin American and 20th century American art, its innovative exhibitions that draw on or enhance the collection, and its unparalleled service to South Florida's diverse audiences. In 2003, the Art Museum at FIU was officially renamed The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum. In 1999, The Museum received accreditation from the American Association of Museums (AAM). It has assumed a central role in the FIU community and in the cultural life of South Florida as a whole through its mission to serve the broadest audience possible and to deliver all programs and services free of charge. The Frost Art Museum is also an affiliate within the Smithsonian Affiliations program.