Connecting Through Art: Meet Alumna Courtney North
Courtney North, from Jacksonville, Florida, graduated from JCU with an M.A. in Art History in 2020. She currently works as Major Gift Officer at the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. With a passion for learning and connection, Courtney encourages everyone to take advantage of opportunities and new experiences.
Tell us about yourself. How did your interest in art history begin?
I moved to Washington D.C for my undergraduate degree at the Catholic University of America. The university offered a study abroad program in Rome, so I decided to go for my first semester of sophomore year. I fell in love with Rome and ended up staying another semester.
My first art history class was with Professor Crispin Corrado in 2014, and I really loved it. She told me JCU was starting a master’s program in art history, and at the time I was thinking about changing my major from politics. All my classes in the art history program were about Rome, but covered different topics, such as theology, philosophy, history, and art. This allowed me to learn a lot about Rome on different levels. When the Master’s Program opened in 2017, I applied. It was a privilege to be a part of the first cohort.
What has life looked like after graduation?
I graduated in May 2020. At the time, all the museums in Washington D.C were closed because of Covid, so I ended up nannying for a year. In March 2021, I got married and my husband and I were finally able to return to Italy for our honeymoon. During this time, I started applying for jobs at museums and worked for the Heurich House Museum in D.C. I loved having a job where I could look at beautiful things every day and be surrounded by people.
After the Heurich House, I started working for the Phillips Collection, a modern and contemporary art museum I had always admired. I started at the front desk, and then I switched to a position in the membership office when it opened up. I liked it, but I almost never spoke to the public, which was something I missed. I enjoyed advancement, development, and fundraising, so that led me to join the giving team. Since then, I’ve been the Major Gift Officer for two years. My role consists of individual fundraising and gifting. I love learning about the museum’s donors and their stories, and what they like about the Phillips Collection.
Tell us about your role as a Major Gift Officer at Phillips.
Our museum costs a certain amount of money to open every year, and how we fund that is through donations, ticket sales, and our endowment. My department fundraises at least 60% of the money, so it is essential for us to have donors. There are different benefits you can unlock if you donate: a tax-deductible membership, parties for exhibitions, and free entry for the whole year. To get donations, I frequently talk to people at events, use the travel program — through events partnered with other organizations held in other cities — and hold philanthropic screenings. It is really fun talking to people, and since we do a lot of events, I’m learning all the time. I always need to be knowledgeable about the artists in the exhibitions and listen to the tours the curators give. It is very helpful having an art history background, because then I can make connections about the artwork and provide unique insight.
What do you like most about your job?
I like that I am always learning and that I get to meet new people and develop relationships with them. I think that is something very special — to feel connected with so many people in Washington D.C. My job is always changing, and there is great energy at the Phillips Collection. It’s beautiful to work with so many different people, in such a hopeful, encouraging and hard-working environment.
I also like how the Phillips Collection is not only contemporary, but also modern. It feels like the two worlds are in conversation, which is how I think of Rome. When I worked at the front desk, I thought it was interesting to see how some people have been coming to the Phillips Collection, some for 50 years, while others have travelled all the way from places like France or Italy.
It is such a privilege to be surrounded by so many works of art at your workplace. For example, I am able to see the Luncheon of the Boating Party by Renoir every day. When the collector, Duncan Phillips, acquired it, he said he didn’t need to purchase any other paintings because people would come to the museum just for that one. It is so beautiful, and it takes up the whole wall. I think that is something really nice about my job.
What would you say to someone that is nervous about studying abroad or unsure about pursuing a career in art history?
It is normal to be nervous about studying abroad. Going somewhere you’ve never been and immersing yourself in a different culture takes courage, but there’s a lot of things you can learn. I think you should take the risk and know that even challenges make you grow.
When it comes to art history, I think it embraces almost every single discipline. When you look at a painting, it’s informed by the history it encompasses — the religion, culture, fashion, and politics of the time. There are also so many layers to art history, and a story behind every single piece of art. Throughout your life, it is important to be excited about your job, and I recommend taking advantage of opportunities to learn what makes you excited.
