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The Essex Art Center (EAC) is a nonprofit art organization with a mission to inspire and nurture the diverse artistic potential of the Greater Lawrence Community through classroom exploration and gallery exhibitions... making the creation and enjoyment of art accessible to ALL.

Thank you to all our supporters!

EAC STAFF EAC Board of Directors EAC Privacy Policy
• Programs
The Essex Art Center's focus is to empower children by enabling them to explore their own creative resources, allowing them to recognize their self worth.

EAC offers continuous after school and evening programs for children and adults, vacation camps and adult workshops. Local artists design and teach the art classes in a wonderful variety of mediums, from ceramics, photography, drawing and painting to silk-screening, bookmaking, sculpture and Italian frescoes.

If you are an artist or teacher with an idea for a class, we would love to hear from you!
• History
In November 1993 three women opened a gallery and small classroom on Essex Street and were determined to show fine art and teach art classes to any citizen of Lawrence and the Merrimack Valley who was interested. Since then Linda Maddox has moved on leaving Leslie Costello and Helen Tory to continue the dream of building a valuable art resource in downtown Lawrence. In 1995 they moved to a larger premises, with 7,200 square feet of galleries and classrooms in the Mill district, where the dream strengthens and grows... and as of July 2001 we occupy 13,200 sq. ft of creative space.

• Facilities

Essex Art Center's first floor space houses: two professional galleries, three spacious classrooms, a darkroom, and a ceramics room.

The upstairs houses artists studios, a drawing studio and our brand new media lab for filmmaking. The Media lab was built and and outfitted with generous contributions of time and funding from Massachusetts Cultural Council's YouthReach Award, Jackson Lumber & Millwork, Rick and Duncan Hough and others.

Ages 3 to adult explore clay, drawing, painting, photography and more through our classes and galleries! Twelve gallery exhibitions are featured per year and are always free to the public. On average the gallery opening receptions attract an audience of 200 local and regional art lovers.

• Outreach

EAC is recognized as an important resource for Lawrence. Since the beginning, the Essex Art Center has responded to the requests from other community organizations and neighborhoods providing the art component for their programs. Due to its spreading reputation, EAC is involved in many fascinating collaborations. These bring new energy to the Art Center and expertise to the other organizations.

FIELD TRIPS -- EAC offers art-making fieldtrips in our space, including a tour of our galleries, to schools and other groups of adults and children. Fieldtrips are scheduled for two hours, on average, and cost $40 per hour, plus the cost of art materials. Fieldtrip projects can include sculpture, painting, mask making, and mixed media, among others.
Please contact Cathy to schedule a fieldtrip: 978-685-2343

• EAC - an advocate for Artists

EAC's spacious galleries shows the work of local artist in a great variety of mediums. Gallery shows change every 4-6 weeks and are free to the public. On average the opening receptions attract an audience of 200 local and regional art lovers.

We have a pool of 50 artists who teach classes and workshops. They share their talents and their love of art with children and adults, inspiring students to explore and express their feelings in a safe environment. Many of EAC's teachers are young and become role models for their students.

Through its Outreach and networking EAC connects and finds job opportunities for artists.

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E s s e x A r t C e n t e r
56 Island Street Lawrence, MA 01840
(978) 685-2343 info@essexartcenter.com


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