Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum announced it will not open on Saturday, the same day as the 33rd anniversary of the museum’s infamous art theft. “We have been made aware that climate activists are planning a protest inside the museum that could potentially put our community and our artwork at risk,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “After careful consideration and many precautions for the safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors and our collection, we have made the difficult decision to remain closed for the day.” On March 18, 1990, artwork worth $500 million was stolen from the museum located off Huntington Avenue near the Back Bay Fens.Two men posing as Boston police officers walked into the museum by telling a security guard they were responding to a report of the disruption, authorities said. The guard and a colleague were handcuffed and locked in the basement while the thieves made off with the 13 works of art. The Concert”, one of less than 40 known paintings by the 17th century Dutch painter. the Gardner Museum 33 years ago,” the museum’s written statement reads. The museum says climate activists have been protesting around the world, sadly using art museums as a stage to promote their cause. “Isabella Stewart Gardner envisioned his museum as a place of art sharing, community and conversation. art, as well as the environment, especially horticulture,” said Peggy Fogelman, director of Norma Jean Calderwood. “While our mission is to uphold Isabella’s values, we do not support this type of tactic which targets art institutions and could potentially endanger the museum’s collection, staff and visitors.”
Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum announced it will not open on Saturday, the same day as the 33rd anniversary of the museum’s infamous art theft.
“We have been made aware that climate activists are planning a protest inside the museum that could potentially put our community and our artwork at risk,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “After careful consideration and a great deal of caution for the safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors and our collection, we have made the difficult decision to remain closed for the day.”
On March 18, 1990, works of art worth $500 million were stolen from the museum located on Huntington Avenue near the Back Bay Fens.
Authorities say two men posing as Boston police entered the museum, telling a security guard they were responding to a report of a disturbance. The guard and a colleague were handcuffed and locked in the basement while the thieves made off with the 13 works of art.
Missing pieces include Rembrandt’s only known seascape, “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee,” and Vermeer’s “The Concert,” one of fewer than 40 known paintings by the 17th-century Dutch painter.
Video: From the Archives: Theft of Art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
“This protest was intentionally timed to coincide with the anniversary of the art theft that took place at the Gardner Museum 33 years ago,” the museum’s written statement read.
The museum says climate activists have been protesting around the world, sadly using art museums as a stage to promote their cause.
“Isabella Stewart Gardner envisioned her museum as a place for art sharing, community and conversation. She was an advocate for all forms of art, as well as the environment, especially horticulture,” said Peggy Fogelman, director by Norma Jean Calderwood. “While our mission is to uphold Isabella’s values, we do not support this type of tactic which targets art institutions and could potentially endanger the museum’s collection, staff and visitors.”