Our Story

“The purpose of education is to awaken joy in creative
expression and knowledge.” — Albert Einstein

Originally located in downtown Lawrence in the City's former Carnegie Library building, the Lawrence Arts Center offers a wide array of arts experiences through its education programs. The Arts Center's stated purpose, from the beginning in 1974, has been to educate Lawrence and the surrounding communities in the arts, provide a full program of arts classes, provide support for local artists, and serve the arts-related needs of the community. The Arts Center opened the Arts-Based Preschool in 1985. In April, 2002 the Lawrence Arts Center moved to our present location at 940 New Hampshire.

The Lawrence Arts Center Preschool approaches the basics in early childhood education through the arts, including music, sculpture, painting, drawing, creative drama, architecture, and creative dance. Children must be 3 years of age before September 1.