Renewing the Promise: For the Public Forever STRATEGIC PLAN 2019–2024
Escape the Ordinary
“... a Museum for the education and enjoyment of the public forever...” Isabella Stewart Gardner
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The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a magical setting where art and community come together to inspire new ways of envisioning our world. Embodying the fearless legacy of our founder, it offers a singular invitation to explore the past through a contemporary lens, creating meaningful encounters and joyful connections for all.
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FROM THE DIRECTOR Isabella Stewart Gardner had a vision. She believed so deeply in the potential for art to change people’s lives and better society that she dedicated herself to building a museum where its power and beauty could be shared with everyone in a transportive, intimate setting. At a time when rigid standards governed women’s roles, Isabella defied convention and used her privileged position and bold personality to courageously champion art through acts of civic leadership, while engaging the public in unique, creative experiences.
from around the world. New commissions of visual and performing arts are vital contemporary expressions of Isabella’s legacy of patronage, as is our commitment to a more diverse range of musical genres, composers, performers, and multidisciplinary projects—all core components of this Plan. Equally essential is the experience of our communities and the meaning they create and discover in making the Gardner a part of their lives.
As a museum with a historic collection, we have an imperative to demonstrate the continuing This Strategic Plan propels Isabella’s vision into relevance of artworks of the past. These objects the 21st century. It is fueled by our ambition to bear witness to timeless commonalities—universal make the Museum not only more welcoming to human stories of love, life, spirituality, and death— diverse audiences, but more reflective of the many and timely, complex issues in our own society voices and perspectives that comprise the vibrant today. Exploring the Gardner’s relevance offers communities we serve. The specific initiatives the opportunity to probe new meanings, tell new contained in the Plan—ranging from innovative stories, and catalyze new creativity so that we can exhibition projects, to new modes of experiencing truly be the dynamic cultural home that Isabella the collection, to local partnerships—will transform envisioned. the Gardner into a platform for meaningful encounters with art and creative culture through Peggy Fogelman our collections, exhibitions and programs. Norma Jean Calderwood Director The Strategic Plan launches with the 25th anniversary celebration of our Artist-in-Residence program, which has hosted more than 100 artists STRATEGIC PLAN 2019–2024
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CORE VALUES
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This Strategic Plan focuses on the period from 2019 to 2024. It is organized around the following framework of core values.
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CREATIVITY IS OUR LEGACY We celebrate our founder’s passion for innovation and risk-taking, and her dedication to multidisciplinary experiences of art. We carry forth her commitment to contemporary artists and creators to share and explore new perspectives and new work.
COMMUNITY IS OUR PURPOSE We are dedicated to making our collections, exhibitions, and programs relevant and welcoming to all audiences. We bring people together for personal enjoyment and connection, and we respect every visitor as we embrace the wide diversity of views and lived experiences of all communities and individuals.
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THE COLLECTION IS OUR CATALYST Our collection expresses both individual and universal human experiences in ways that are distinctive and inspiring. We have an imperative to care for the collection, to explore its complex histories, and to demonstrate its enduring relevance in a changing world.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION ARE OUR COMMITMENTS We will continue to build a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in holistic ways that inspire all aspects of our work, from exhibition interpretation to staff development. Our fundamental goal is for visitors, staff, volunteers, and trustees of all backgrounds to experience the Gardner as a place of community and respect. The complete Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement is available at ISGM.ORG/DEI
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GOALS
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In order to move successfully into our next chapter, we have developed goals that position the Museum to advance our impact.
Cultural Home • To become a leading cultural home in Boston for intimate and immersive experiences with art for a broad range of audiences. Center of Creativity and Community Impact • To create an incubator for innovation in programs and exhibitions that advances scholarly inquiry, explores relevant social issues, and tests new models of collaboration with artistic, community, and academic partners. • To expand the network of artists engaged with the Gardner through the commission of new visual and performance works in response to our collection and exhibitions. • To evolve a purpose driven organizational culture that encourages diverse thought, experience, and cultural competency at all levels of the institution. Enhanced Visitor Experience • To deliver a high-quality visitor experience with enhanced services, improved technology, and greater ease of access for a diverse public.
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KEY INITIATIVES
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INITIATIVES TO HELP US ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS INCLUDE: • Increasing the number of annual exhibitions connecting historical and contemporary art, and developing dynamic and innovative exhibitionrelated programming
• Promoting the highest standard of curatorial excellence in collection and conservation scholarship, disseminating research through exhibitions, publications, and conferences
• Broadening the range of new voices, scholarly partners, artists, community collaborators, and co-curators for richer and more varied perspectives in our programs and public-facing activities
• Growing university partnerships, with expanded outreach to community colleges
• Building on our highly successful Third Thursdays programming to make the Gardner a destination for younger and more diverse audiences every Thursday • Making new digital investments in the visitor experience to ensure a seamless, welcoming, and personalized journey from entry to exit
• Ensuring broader representation of women, people of color, and non-Western artists in historical and contemporary exhibitions and performance programs • Strengthening our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and employing strategies to attract and retain diverse talent in our staff, governing boards, volunteers, and museum teachers in order to better reflect the communities we serve
• Advancing arts integration strategies and studentcentered learning in Boston Public Schools through expanded K-12 teacher professional development programs and student visits
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SUCCESS INDICATORS
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The following key indicators of success represent only a snapshot of what we are working to accomplish. They highlight some of the ways we will be able to assess the Plan’s impact.
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CULTURAL HOME We will attract a broad range of audiences, with total attendance reaching and sustaining 350,000 visitors per year. Our local visitor demographics will reflect census data for metro Boston. We will also increase repeat attendance and membership.
CENTER OF CREATIVITY We will expand the number and diversity of artists and performers who work with the Gardner to develop art, music, and performance pieces inspired by and in response to the collection. We will generate new knowledge through publications and exhibitions.
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SOURCE OF COMMUNITY IMPACT We will increase press mentions and social media posts connecting our programs and exhibitions to contemporary issues. We will increase the number of community-based projects that connect exhibitions to social justice issues.
ENHANCED VISITOR EXPERIENCE We will consistently achieve high satisfaction and engagement levels for onsite and online visitors.
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PURPOSE DRIVEN CULTURE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION We will advance the diversity of staff, volunteers, and governing boards. We will maintain high satisfaction and workplace engagement ratings reported by employees.
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RENEWING THE PROMISE
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The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum will activate the courageous legacy and foresight of our founder with renewed determination. We will build more meaningful connections to more individuals than ever before. And we will do this guided by our belief in the extraordinary power of art to enlighten, engage, and inspire, and through our unwavering commitment to respect for all.
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COVER: photography by Steve Osemwenkhae PAGE 2: John Singer Sargent, Isabella Stewart Gardner, 1888 PAGE 3: photography by Ally Schmalling, featuring, Fabiola M. Méndez Quiñones in the Dutch Room PAGE 4: photography by Stephanie Berger, featuring Peggy Fogelman PAGE 5: photography by Ally Schmalling, featuring Maimouna Youssef in Calderwood Hall PAGE 6: photography by Ally Schmalling PAGE 7: top right photography by Ally Schmalling, featuring Silvia López Chavez, lower left photography by Anita Kan, featuring Lee Mingwei PAGE 8: top right photography by Ally Schmalling, featuring Erin Robertson, lower left photography by Sean Dungan, featuring Raphael Room PAGE 9: photography by Natalia Slattery, featuring Gianfranco Pocobene in the Titian Room PAGE 11: photography by Faizal Westcott PAGE 13: photography by Sarah Whitling, featuring Brooklyn Jumbies PAGE 14: photography by Steve Osemwenkhae PAGE 15: top right photography by Tiffany York, featuring Charmaine Wheatly, lower left photography by Matt Teuten PAGE 16: top right photography by Sarah Whitling, lower left photography by Sarah Whitling, featuring Grooversity PAGE 17: left photography by Natalia Slattery, featuring Myranda Peterson, Carly Dove, right photography by Ally Schmalling PAGE 18: photography by Matt Teuten PAGE 20: photography by Ally Schmalling
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