A view of the courtyard

Historic and contemporary art, education, landscape, and music are the five programming cornerstones at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. In the new Thursday series “Room Views,’’ museum staff, guests, and artists-in-residence will discuss Mrs. Gardner’s fabulous galleries. Tonight’s talk with artist Taro Shinoda and Anne Hawley, the Norma Jean Calderwood museum director, focuses on the courtyard, the sculpture-filled heart of the museum. 6:30 p.m. $10, $5 seniors, free for college students (includes a wine reception and museum admission). Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 the Fenway, Boston. 617-278-5156. www.gardnermuseum.org