We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Courtney E Gardner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Courtney below.

Courtney, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Healing Arts was one program that really meant a lot to me while I was a Museum Director in Virginia. We provided art therapy for veterans at the Hampton VA Hospital inpatient PTSD unit. Our program was invited to be a part of Creative Forces, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and the Department of Defense. Creative Forces was evaluated. The results showed that art therapies address the effects of traumatic brain injury in soldiers, yielding a 66% improvement in depression, a 50% improvement in anxiety, and an 83% decrease in stress. I love the arts, but more importantly, I love the social impact that arts programs can have on communities.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the Director of the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts located in Northwest Houston, Texas. My nonprofit career started as a Development Director of a Fine Arts Museum in Virginia. I held various roles in nonprofits until I became an Executive Director of another arts organization in Virginia. I was very much drawn to the arts because I want people to understand that the arts can impact every part of your community to make it healthier, more vibrant, and more inclusive.

I left the position as the Director of the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News, Virginia, to assume the role in Texas. I was recruited to Texas because during my tenure the American Alliance of Museums accredited my museum in Virginia. The Pearl Fincher Museum Board has a goal to be accredited. Of the 33,000 museums in the United States, only 1,100 are accredited, so this is a very aspirational goal.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am a passionate advocate for the arts and the role we can play in our communities. One of the goals we have at the Pearl Fincher Museum is to expand the boundaries of the public’s perception of art because the art world is evolving, and creativity has no bounds. Whether we are hosting choral and musical concerts in our galleries, using vibrant strokes to create art in our School of Art, or introducing children and adults to the beautiful art in the galleries.

But here’s the magic: no matter the form, the arts are catalysts for transformation. They don’t just exist within the fringes of our lives; they are the very heartbeat of our existence. Imagine belting out your favorite tune in the shower, losing yourself to the rhythm of a dance floor, or crafting words that resonate through time – these are moments when creativity flows like a mighty river, influencing and shaping our daily experiences.

The arts don’t just integrate seamlessly into our lives; they possess a unique and extraordinary power. They are the painters of emotions, the architects of imagination, and the alchemists of expression. Each artistic endeavor, whether a small, personal act or a grand, community-wide spectacle, holds the potential to ignite a spark, challenge perceptions, and bring people together in beautiful, harmonious ways. In the world of art, possibilities are boundless, and magic is everywhere, waiting to be discovered.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Striving to be the best at what you do is an admirable pursuit. The notion whispers promises of perfection, urging us to reach for the stars with unwavering determination. Yet, as I ventured into the world of work, reality hit me like a ton of bricks. Perfect execution? Not always attainable. Fast forward to over two decades in the realm of nonprofit management and running museums, and I’ve uncovered a profound truth: perfection, more often than not, is the enemy of completion. It’s a tantalizing mirage that keeps us endlessly tweaking, forever chasing an unattainable ideal. Why? Because there’s an inherent flaw in perfection—it refuses to acknowledge the ever-present room for improvement in what we are doing at the museum.

My approach has evolved. I’ve learned to prioritize delivering my work promptly and refining it later. Oh, sure, there have been occasions when this choice felt like a high-stakes gamble, leaving me in a bit of a pickle. But the times it’s paid off? Well, they’re beyond measure. This method has become my secret weapon for not just surviving but thriving in the world of deadlines and expectations. It’s a reminder that progress beats perfection, that action outshines inaction, and that sometimes, good enough today is better than flawless tomorrow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pearlfinchermuseum.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pearlfinchermfa/?fbclid=IwAR1EOkPf10tuvChZQrtwAg7BLVLf8GMmwB-ZDqG11ltnSfRp7sYnDwJ-jEE
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pearlfinchermfa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyegardner/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pearlfinchermuseumoffinear7091

Image Credits
All these images where taken by museum staff.