ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM INC

COLLECTION AND CONSERVATION - DISTINGUISHED AMONG OTHER GREAT MUSEUMS FOR PRESERVING THE CURATORIAL VISION OF ITS FOUNDER, THE GARDNER MUSEUM IS A WORK OF ART IN TOTALITY. IT ENCOMPASSES A COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 20,000 OBJECTS, INCLUDING ARCHIVAL ITEMS AND WORKS OF ART SPANNING 30 CENTURIES. ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER BEQUEATHED THIS REMARKABLE COLLECTION AND HISTORIC BUILDING AS A RESOURCE "FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC FOREVER." ON CONTINUAL DISPLAY, THE ONGOING CONSERVATION OF THE COLLECTION EMPLOYS CUTTING EDGE SCIENTIFIC METHODS AND NEW PRACTICES TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND SAFEGUARD THESE WORKS FOR POSTERITY. SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, PUBLICATIONS, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS FEATURE NEW RESEARCH ON THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION AND CATALYZE DIALOGUES THAT ADDRESS QUESTIONS OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL RELEVANCE.

EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS - THE GARDNER'S EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS CREATE WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE, AND ENJOYABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCES. KNOWN FOR A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AS WELL AS COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES, THE GARDNER OFFERS A RICH VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS THAT SPARK IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCES WITH WORKS OF ART AND PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH SOME OF TODAY'S MOST CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS. IN ADDITION TO HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND DOCENTS, THE MUSEUM CONDUCTS THOUGHTFUL RESEARCH THAT BRINGS NEW KNOWLEDGE TO THE MUSEUM EDUCATION FIELD. THE THINKING THROUGH ART K-12 PROGRAM, KNOWN FOR ITS EMPHASES ON CLOSE LOOKING AND GROUP MEANING MAKING, HAS PRODUCED RESEARCH ON HOW IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCES WITH ART DISCUSSION HELPED BOSTON STUDENTS DEVELOP SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THAN STUDENTS IN CONTROL SCHOOLS WITHOUT THE PROGRAM. WORKING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, PERFORMERS, CULTURAL LEADERS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS, THE MUSEUM WORKS TO BUILD MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND PARTNERS. THIRD THURSDAYS,A SUCCESSFUL EVENING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS, HAS BECOME A MODEL FOR MUSEUMS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN ENGAGING YOUNG, LOCAL AUDIENCES. NEIGHBORHOOD SALON LUMINARIES AND STUDIO ARTISTS PROGRAMS BUILD COMMUNITY WITH LOCAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVES, CONNECTING THEM WITH THE MUSEUM, THE STAFF, COLLECTION, AND RESOURCES, INFORMING FUTURE PROGRAM CO-CREATION AND ARTISTIC RESPONSES TO THE GARDNER. EXHIBITION INTERPRETATION AND PROGRAMMING FEATURE A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES, CREATING MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS FOR VISITORS. THE GARDNER AMBASSADORS PAID INTERNSHIP PROVIDES PRACTICAL, COMPENSATED JOB PATHWAYS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS, EMPHASIZING BOTH PERSONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS GROUNDING THEIR LEARNING IN THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE.