Meet Lauren Henschen of Phoenix Center for the Arts in Downtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Henschen.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am in awe of artists. The level of talent needed to create an elaborate watercolor or syncopate a perfect flamenco rhythm takes thousands of hours of practice (possibly tens of thousands). How many of us can say we are truly masters of our craft? And yet artists are regularly undervalued. Art itself continues to be removed from our schools and from the landscape of our learning experience. Knowing this, I have always felt a personal obligation to help artists get the recognition they deserve. On a larger scale, I seek to advocate for art, its place in our culture, and its very tangible benefits to our mental and physical health.

Marketing the arts has been my daily life for the past 12+ years, first working for a local PR firm (representing the Scottsdale Arts District, as well as businesses like Changing Hands Bookstore and Local First Arizona), then moving on to Phoenix Center for the Arts. I began working at Phoenix Center for the Arts as Marketing Manager in 2013, roughly one year after the nonprofit began operating of the City of Phoenix facility. I saw the organization grow to more than five times its original size in my first 3 years. We offered just 40 art classes for youth and adults each trimester in 2011. Now we offer 250! We have expanded into a second facility in North Phoenix, and operate programs in half a dozen other locations throughout the Valley. It’s been astounding to see the growth and impact Phoenix Center for the Arts has had on the community and I am proud to be a part of that.

These days, as Deputy Director, I oversee an incredible five-person marketing and communications team, serve as director of our public events, and act as Phoenix Center for the Arts’ liaison in community meetings.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would say the road has been smooth. The Downtown Phoenix community is incredibly active and engaged, and you get out of it what you put into it. Showing up to be a part of the conversation is imperative.

Please tell us about Phoenix Center for the Arts.
Phoenix Center for the Arts provides arts and culture opportunities for all through education, programming, and advocacy. The classes we offer for youth and adults cover everything from visual arts like painting and ceramics to performing arts like music, theatre, and dance, to creative writing, and more!

One of my favorite programs launched about 2 years ago after we participated in the Ebay/PayPal Small Business Challenge. We worked with a team of programmers to develop a platform for offering online classes. Since then we have offered classes in art history and creative writing to people all over the world, including an individual serving overseas who took a travel writing course. How cool is that?

What I’m most proud of is the Center’s ability to listen. Our programmatic offerings are a direct response to requests from our community. Beyond that, we provide a home space for several other arts nonprofits doing amazing work. Our current residents include Rising Youth Theatre, Radio Phoenix, Aliento, Emancipation Arts, Phoenix Children’s Chorus, Cultural Coalition, Essential Theatre, Sounds Academy, Voices of the Desert, Restore Arts, Arizona Masters of Poetry, and Daring Adventures. This spirit of support and collaboration makes Phoenix Center for the Arts a fun, creative, and innovative place to be.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Not sure I would have done much differently. I feel very fortunate to be working in a field I love, surrounded by people I admire.

Pricing:

• Adult Classes at Phoenix Center for the Arts range from $10-$330
• Youth Classes at Phoenix Center for the Arts range from $40-$250
• Phoenix Center for the Arts also offers need based financial aid and scholarships
• Veterans, as well as Active Duty Military and their families are eligible for free art classes at the Center

Contact Info:

• Address: Phoenix Center for the Arts
  1202 N Third Street
  Phoenix, AZ 85004Thunderbird Arts Center
  1106 E Grovers Avenue
  Phoenix, AZ 85022
• Website: phoenixcenterforthearts.org
• Phone: 602-254-3100
• Email: info@phoenixcenterforthearts.org

Image Credit:
Festival193 (1 of 1) credited to Peggy Coleman
Beta-Dance-Festival_01 and Beta-Dance-Festival_02 credited to Mirinda DiBiase
Open-House_01 and Open-House_02 credited to Lauren Henschen
Phoenix-Festival-de-Espana credited to Fernando Hernandez
Summer-Camp_01 and Summer-Camp_02 credited to Phoenix Center for the Arts

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.