EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS During the 2014-2015 fiscal year, Community Programs saw a number of transitions, beginning with the retirement of long-time Director of Community Programs, Johnetta Tinker and the hiring of Damon Reaves as Director of Community Engagement. Ending the Community Partnership Program and the Community Creations exhibition, the Museum shifted to a more holistic strategy to use a mix of new and established programs to create multiple engagement opportunities. Focusing on Boston residents, especially non-traditional museum audiences from our surrounding neighborhood, we believe this new approach offers greater potential for long-term engagement, repeat visitors, and increased membership. Open Studio programs, including the monthly Polly Thayer Starr Guest Artist events, developed a loyal following. Studio staff experimented with a range of interactive installations on the Linda Cabot and Ed Anderson Student Art Wall, drawing enthusiastic participation from visitors for a gridding project where visitors helped recreate El Jaleo and the “ISGM Draws” project in connection the Donatello, Michelangelo, Cellini: Sculptors’ Drawings from Renaissance Italy exhibition.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS The successful Third Thursdays program continued to attract and engage young adults (18-34 year olds), often through collaboration with outside organizations including Future Boston Alliance, Startup Institute, Discover Roxbury, Grub Street, ONEin3, and Massachusetts College of Art + Design. These collaborations reinvigorate the program and introduce the Museum to audiences who might not typically attend. With 70% of participants under the age of 35, and 63% from the Boston/Cambridge area, Third Thursdays is building new local audiences for the Gardner.
School Partnership Family Events MCA Fall Festival, 28 attendees Tobin Winterfest, 33 attendees EMK Celebration of the Arts, 70 attendees BLS Open House, 60 attendees 191 attendees
Teens Behind The Scenes Damaris Calderon Cassandra Haas Andres Montoya Cilviano Alvir Perez Katie Duckworth Esther Huynh Lara Tang Anthony Peña
Community Programs Neighborhood Nights Thursday, July 10 & 24, August 7, 2014 2107 attendees
Also designed to attract local audiences, a new Sanctuary Series was piloted in June. Programs included lunch-time yoga classes in Calderwood Hall, and two walking workshops in the Museum and outside gardens with Brooklyn-based artist Bibi Calderaro.
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