Arthurina Fears, Donna Hardwick and Nathaniel Silver join Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as it Expands Senior Leadership Team

BOSTON, MA (October 2023) – The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum announces the appointments of Arthurina Fears, Donna Hardwick and Nathaniel Silver as part of the Museum’s senior leadership team, effective October 2023. Fears assumes the role of Esther Stiles Eastman Curator of Education; Hardwick will serve as Director of Marketing and Communications; and Silver, Associate Director and Chief Curator. These positions, reporting to Peggy Fogelman, Norma Jean Calderwood Director of the Museum, complete the Museum’s leadership team, which also includes Rebecca Ehrhardt, Chief Development Officer; Rob Molla, Director of Human Resources; and Clifford Rust, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.

“Arthurina, Donna and Nat bring an exceptional mix of experience and backgrounds that embody the creativity and community collaboration that have characterized the Gardner’s activities since the launch of our strategic plan,” explains Peggy Fogelman, “There has been much enthusiasm surrounding their appointments and expansion of our leadership team. Together, we embrace the future – working together to develop dynamic exhibitions and engage with the community in bold, new ways.”

Arthurina Fears, Esther Stiles Eastman Curator of Education

Fears’ career spans 10-plus years in education at several large-scale organizations. Fears comes to the Gardner from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where she served as Assistant Director of Gallery Teaching and Collections Training. Her role at the MFA was integral in reinstituting guided school group tours and drop-in tours for the public post COVID, in addition to launching an online collections training course for all volunteers. Prior to her time at the MFA, Fears was Curator of Education and Programs at the Davis Museum of Wellesley College. She also held roles at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon where she oversaw studio programming, developed museum education programs, and led community engagement initiatives.

“The Gardner Museum is a truly special and magical place, and I’m thrilled to be part of its vibrant tradition offering innovative and transformative experiences to the public, while fostering a deep sense of connection and creativity. I’m excited to bring my experience in art and wellness, public programs, studio art, and academic and community engagement. There’s something for everyone here, and I look forward to expanding opportunities for respite, healing, creativity, and joy.”

Donna Hardwick, Director of Marketing and Communications

Hardwick’s career spans 20-plus years in marketing, advertising, communications and engagement across public television and radio. She began her career at GBH Boston working in station relations and marketing.

There, she built campaigns to support some of the station’s top programs including Antiques Roadshow; This Old House; NOVA; and, the special documentary series, Slavery in America. Most recently, Donna was Chief Marketing Officer at PRX, a new role at the organization, where she built a marketing department and developed new systems and campaign processes to elevate and promote PRX’s slate of programming and podcasts. Previously, Hardwick ran her own marketing and communications agency, On and On Solutions, where she partnered with non-profit and corporate clients on grassroots marketing and publicity campaigns.

“It is an honor to join this amazing team and community, and to engage more deeply with visitors, ensuring that people from all over the world are aware of the tremendous programs of this unique institution. I believe that art has the power to change lives and I look forward to helping the Gardner Museum as it expands its creative vision impacting people from many different cultures and backgrounds. The Gardner's approach is fresh and innovative and I look forward to helping to introduce the Museum to a whole new generation of visitors.”

Nathaniel Silver, Associate Director and Chief Curator

Silver returns to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as Associate Director and Chief Curator after serving as executive dIrector and CEO at Hancock Shaker Village. Previously at the Gardner, Silver oversaw Collections, Conservation, and Archives and curated or co-curated more than a dozen exhibitions including the acclaimed Titian: Women, Myth, and Power and Boston’s Apollo: Thomas McKeller and John Singer Sargent. With nearly fifteen years of experience in fine art museums and cultural institutions, Silver has worked at The Frick Collection, J. Paul Getty Museum, and Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts. Silver’s expanded leadership role at the Gardner will encompass strategic and administrative responsibilities, thought leadership and the development of exhibitions and collections initiatives.

"I'm so pleased to rejoin the Gardner at such an important time. I’m honored to be the inaugural Associate Director and Chief Curator and look forward to working with Peggy Fogelman, and our entire team, on current projects and bringing new ones to fruition. I look forward to building on the strengths of our strategic plan as we continue serving existing and new communities and making art of the past relevant to our present."

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The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum invites you to escape the ordinary in a magical setting where art and community come together to inspire new ways of envisioning our world. Embodying the fearless legacy of its founder, the Museum offers a singular invitation to explore the past through a contemporary lens, creating meaningful encounters with art and joyful connections for all. Modeled after a Venetian palazzo, unforgettable galleries surround a luminous Courtyard and are home to masters such as Rembrandt, Raphael, Titian, Michelangelo, Whistler, and Sargent. The Renzo Piano wing provides a platform for contemporary artists, musicians, and scholars and serves as an innovative venue where creativity is celebrated in all of its forms.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum • 25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115 • Hours: Open Weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Weekdays from 11a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays until 9 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. • Advance tickets are required for timed entry. Limited tickets may be available at the door at peak times or days • Admission: Adults $20; Seniors $18; Students $13; Free for members, children under 18, everyone on their birthday, and all named “Isabella” • Special exhibitions are included as part of general admission. • $2 off admission with a same-day Museum of Fine Arts, Boston ticket • For information 617 566 1401 • Box Office 617 278 5156 • www.gardnermuseum.org

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lily Dearing
Marketing & Communications Coordinator ldearing@isgm.org
617.264.6061