Create a Legacy of Artistic Excellence and Access
Named for Clayton & Sally Gardner – see their story below – the Gardner Society is a special circle of Artistry friends who are committed to sustaining artistic excellence and access for future generations through thoughtful estate planning.
The opportunities to support our mission and programming in this way include naming Artistry in your will; making Artistry a beneficiary of your revocable living trust, charitable remainder trust, qualified retirement plan, or life insurance policy; or leaving real estate or other assets to Artistry.
If you have included Artistry in your estate plans, please let us know by completing and mailing the form linked below so we may recognize you with our Gardner Society members and invite you to the annual Society luncheon.
Members
Mark Adkins
Sharon Baumgartner †
Penny Bond & Chuck Grimsrud
Clayton & Sally Gardner
Bob Hawbaker †
Scott Helgeson & Laura Davida Preves
Joanne Hickman †
Dana & Cynthia House †
Sandra Hoverson
Melvin & Donna Kirkpatrick †
Jason Moore & Craig Ashby
Rodney Palmberg †
Allan & Debby Schneider
Karen Snedeker
Andrea Specht
Patricia E. Sullivan †
† In remembrance
meet Clayton and sally Gardner
sally and clayton gardner
Clayton Gardner’s deep connection with Artistry began in January 1960 when he appeared in then Bloomington Civic Theatre’s production of Mr. Roberts. BCT was just five years old at the time, and Clayton’s experience playing “Mannion” in this nautical drama fueled a lifelong passion for theater that was first kindled in high school. Roles in Guys and Dolls (“Rusty Charlie”), The Pajama Game (ensemble), and other BCT shows soon followed.
Clayton formed indelible memories and friendships before trading “the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd” for a successful sales career that took him from Bloomington to Atlanta to Chicago and many places in between. Now retired, Clayton and his wife Sally are enthusiastic supporters of Artistry and deeply proud of the ways our organization has grown and developed.
What’s most exciting about Artistry today? According to the Gardners, it’s the commitment to artistic excellence reflected in our productions, our efforts to reach and engage the next generations of theater artists and audiences, and our growing identity as a regional arts and culture asset.
To ensure that Artistry continues to grow and thrive for many years to come, the Gardners have included Artistry in their estate plans. Clayton and Sally enthusiastically encourage others to join them in leaving a legacy of artistic excellence and access.