A Conversation with Essex Art Center’s Monica Manoski

Monica Manoski, Executive Director of the Essex Art Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Photo by Mariana Martins.

New England is luckily a region with many talented and passionate arts leaders. Monica Manoski is one of them. The Executive Director of the Essex Art Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Monica is supporting her organization’s mission to inspire and sustain a diverse community of artists in its city and region. What follows is a conversation between New England Art News Editor Michael Rose and Monica Manoski about her background, her work, and the work of Essex Art Center.

Michael: Can you talk about your personal background and the perspective you bring to Essex Art Center as an Executive Director?

Monica: I am trained as an artist. I received a BFA in drawing and painting from Arizona State University and an MFA in Studio Art from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. I also have a minor in Business and a Master of Education from Dominican University, which I earned while serving with Teach For America in Chicago. My understanding of business and educational principles serves me well, but my sensitivity to the world and passion for working in and being part of a community drive me in this work.

My experience working in community-based settings motivates me to ensure that Essex Art Center is welcoming to people from Lawrence, specifically, and to the region more broadly. Everyone who comes through our doors is respected and treated as an artist. I also strive to provide a sense of hospitality, giving great care and attention to our space, ensuring our events are thoughtfully orchestrated, our exhibitions are beautiful and timely, and we do our best to make sure people know we are glad to be their creative home.

I’m originally from Indiana, and my Midwestern roots, which emphasized hard work and friendliness, have always been noticed. I remember when I first moved out to Arizona and later to Boston, people would often ask, “Where are you from?” Waving to people on the streets and smiling and saying “hi,” apparently, were indications that I wasn’t a West or East-coaster. I know lots of really warm people, from all over the place, so I’m not sure if that’s exactly what it was, but for some reason, people recognized that I wasn’t from “here,” wherever it was that I found my current place in the world.

I moved to Lawrence shortly after taking the Executive Director position in 2021 because I wanted to have a deeper presence here. Lawrence is one of the most special, community-driven places I’ve ever been. People show up for each other. This city has an incredibly rich and creative cultural landscape, and I feel lucky to be a part of it.

Visitors enjoy the exhibition In a Time of Many Suns at the Essex Art Center. Photo by Mariana Martins.

Michael: In your opinion, what are Essex Art Center's key roles in, or values to, the greater Lawrence community?

Monica: Essex Art Center is a force for good in the community. We fill gaps in school art education by providing studio-based, hands-on learning experiences that empower young people, build their confidence, and give them a sense of agency. Over the past two decades, we have installed numerous youth-led public artworks that add texture and beauty to our vibrant city. And we host events and classes that bring people together, spark joy and connection, and inspire creativity.

I firmly believe our work as an organization and the work we do to support artists has never been more essential. Artists, and the visions they share through their creative work, show us that new worlds and new futures are possible. Artists move us on an emotional level, and we all need inspiration. I believe artists are our best shot at saving the planet, and I shaped this idea into our current exhibition, In a time of many suns // En un tiempo de muchos soles. The vision for the show is that each artist serves as a life-giving sun, illuminating the ideas that matter most to them. There’s also an interactive component that invites visitors to “Write the world they want to live in into existence.” This prompt reminds us that we each hold the power of imagination, and the things we imagine can become a reality, so why not dream of a dreamy, best-case scenario?

Michael: What advice would you share with an emerging professional who wants to lead a community arts center?

Monica: I never had leading an arts organization on my mind. When I went to grad school, I wanted to be a “rock star artist.” After graduating, I followed leads that felt aligned with what I cared about most — art and community — and, through that process, I gained meaningful experience in leadership, education, and fundraising — all core to the work I do now.

If you know you want to be a leader of an arts organization, follow your heart, but don’t be afraid to take positions that are outside the field. I took roles in Chicago and Boston, not because they were my dream job or part of a clear career trajectory, but because they were in communities I wanted to be part of. It just so happened that these roles shaped me into a strong candidate for the role I’m in now.

If my job sounds intriguing to you, I encourage you to reach out. I’m more than happy to have a 1:1 conversation with anyone who wants to know more about working in a nonprofit or running a community-based arts organization. I love what I do, and I feel lucky to be in this role.

A student makes art during a field trip to the Essex Art Center. Photo by Mariana Martins.

Michael: Looking at the future for your organization, what excites you most?

Monica: So much! The number one thing that excites me is spearheading the effort to create an Arts and Culture District in Lawrence. Thirty years ago, when Essex Art Center moved into our building at 56 Island Street, we were one of the only businesses in the area. Over time, small businesses, other nonprofits, residences, and artists' studios popped up in the neighborhood. Now, the area is bustling. Artists and arts organizations are vitality drivers, and I believe that advancing creative programming and adding new beautification projects will add structure and definition to our vibrant city, allowing folks who aren’t from here to see it with the same loving eyes as those who live and work here.

Learn more about Essex Art Center at www.essexartcenter.org.

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