Privacy Policy

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (“the Museum”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of its online guests, visitors, members, and donors (“Users”, “you”, “your”). This privacy policy (this “Privacy Policy”) describes how we collect and use information through our website (gardnermuseum.org, “the Website”, or “the Site”). The Museum believes that informing Users about the types of information we collect and how we use that information is crucial to our mission.

Personal Information

The Museum does not collect any personal information about individual Users, including  names, postal or email addresses, credit card information, or other personally identifying information (“Personal Information”) unless such information is knowingly provided. In general, you can browse the Site without submitting your Personal Information to us. We may collect Personal Information when you:

• Purchase tickets for admission, concerts, or events
• Purchase a membership or gift membership
• Purchase a gift certificate
• Purchase merchandise
• Make a donation
• Subscribe to a mailing list
• Request information be sent to you through the Site
• Complete a survey
• Apply for a job, internship, or volunteer position
• Communicate with us through the Site, including the completion of any online forms

By knowingly providing Personal Information to the Museum through the Site, whether by engaging in one of the activities above or otherwise, Users are consenting to the Museum’s use of their Personal Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. Users may opt out of the Museum’s use of their Personal Information by taking the steps described below.

Non-Personal Information

Some non-Personal Information is collected automatically. The Museum collects some anonymized, aggregate non-Personal Information about Users when pages are requested through a browser. Non-Personal Information may refer to information about our Users’ browsers, operating systems, internet service providers, time zone, and other similar information. Collecting non-Personal Information, among other things, helps us optimize the performance of the Site and collect valuable data which helps the Museum understand the success of the Site. 

Cookies

The Museum may use Cookies to track information about you. “Cookies” are small data files that are sent to your browser from a web server and are stored on your computer’s hard drive. Cookies track where you travel on the Site and what you look at. Examples of the ways in which the Museum might use Cookies are to control access to certain features, to customize content areas, and to analyze site activity and user behavior. The Museum also reserves the right to use Cookies in the future, including in conjunction with new content or extended functionality.

Pixels

The Museum uses “pixels” placed through Google Tag Manager to track behavior on the Website and to collect Cookies for remarketing. Examples of behavior that is tracked include which pages a User visits and what content they interact with. In addition, this data helps the Museum target advertising toward Users who have expressed interest in the Museum by visiting the Site. This User behavior information is anonymized and never includes Personal Information. 

Marketing and Promotion

If you give the Museum permission by knowingly providing such information to the Museum by using the Site, we may use any Personal Information you submit for Museum marketing, promotional, or other purposes. For example, the Museum sometimes sends emails to inform Users of new exhibitions or other events we think might be of interest. The Museum may also use your Personal Information to respond to information you have requested through email or through a form submitted on the Site. 

Third-Party Vendors

The Museum has teamed up with reputable third-party vendors in order to provide certain services to its online Users. The Museum has taken reasonable precautions to ensure that the privacy of its online Users’ information, including Personal Information, is protected by any Third-party partners. 

Guest Checkout

The Museum retains some Personal Information even when Users choose to purchase tickets or otherwise interact with the Site using the Site’s “Guest Checkout” feature. This information may be used if the Museum needs to contact you about your purchase or in order to process a refund. 

Other Organizations

If you sign up for a Museum membership online or purchase a ticket online, your Personal Information will be entered into the Museum’s constituent database. The Museum may share your Personal Information with other reputable organizations that you may be interested in, such as other non-profits, art institutions, and companies.

How to Update or Remove your Personal Information

If for any reason you do not wish to receive further notifications (emails or mailings) from the Museum or wish to change your preferences for the types of notifications you receive, please follow the instructions included within the body of the message that was sent to you, or email privacy@isgm.org. 

Links

The Site may include links to other unaffiliated websites operated by third parties, over which we have no control. The Museum is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites and Users are encouraged to become familiar with the privacy statements of each site they visit. Once you leave the Site, this Privacy Policy will not apply, and you access such sites at your own risk.

Children

The Museum does not knowingly collect Personal Information from children 17 years of age and under. Children should always ask parents/guardians for permission before providing Personal Information to any website or purchasing any products or services online. The Museum urges all parents/guardians to participate in their child’s exploration of the Internet and to teach them about protecting their Personal Information while online.

Security

The Museum takes reasonable steps to protect the security and integrity of all Personal Information provided to the Site. For example, the Museum uses SSL encryption to process all purchases made through the Site. However, the Museum cannot guarantee that your Personal Information will be absolutely safe from intrusion by others, and the Museum will have no liability for disclosure of your information, including Personal Information, due to errors or unauthorized acts of third-parties during or after transmission.

The Museum may use email to notify you in the unlikely event that we believe the security of your Personal Information in our possession may have been compromised. By using this Site, you consent to our use of email as a means of such notification. 

Changes to the Privacy Policy

The Museum reserves the right to change or update this Privacy Policy, or any other of the Museum’s policies or practices, at any time. The Museum’s posting of such changed or updated Privacy Policy on this page shall constitute notice to Users of the changes or updates. Any changes or updates will be effective immediately upon posting to this Site. We encourage you to check this page whenever you visit the Site for any changes or updates.

Acceptance of Terms

By using the Site, you are consenting to and accept our Privacy Policy, as the same may be modified by us from time to time. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, please do not use our Site. Your use of the Site constitutes your acceptance of the terms of this Privacy Policy and any changes we make to it.

This Privacy Policy is effective as of October 2019.

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