Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

Artists leaders and artist-run groups addressing policy issues that affect artists in Massachusetts

2018 Champion of Artists Awardee Spotlight: Julie Hennrikus

As we lead up to 12th Annual “Artists Under The Dome” Event and the MALC 2018 “Champion of Artists” Awards on November 14, 2018, at the State House, we are highlighting each of the six “Champion of Artists” awardees. This post is highlighting Julie Hennrikus.

Julie Hennrikus, photo by Meg Mannon
Julie Hennrikus, photo by Meg Mannon

This is the third time MALC has given these awards, which will be part of the morning program. The award ceremony will begin at 10:30am in the State House’s Great Hall, located on the second floor. This ceremony, along with all the events that are part of the annual Artists Under the Dome event, are free and open to the public.  Although it is not required, we are urging people to register for the event.  For more information and to register: http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/annualevent.htm

This years awardees in alphabetical order:

  • State Representative Cory Atkins, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development
  • Adrienne Hawkins, Dance Artist, Master Teacher, Choreographer
  • Julie Hennrikus, Founder of Your Ladders, Arts Advocate, Mystery Author
  • Meri Jenkins, Cultural Districts Program Manager/Massachusetts Cultural Council
  • Lou Jones, Photographer
  • Save the Art–Save the Museum (STA-STM): Art advocates protecting the Public Trust at the Berkshire Museum

MALC has had the pleasure of working and advocating with Julie Hennrikus (who is also an acclaimed mystery writer) in her former role as the executive director of StageSource, an arts service and advocacy nonprofit for the New England theater and performing arts community. She is a fierce and dedicated advocate for the arts and for artists of all disciplines and she always made the effort to come to the annual Artists Under the Dome event at the State House. MALC has no doubt that Julie will continue to make the arts community a better place because of her continued advocacy and her newly founded, “Your Ladders”, an online arts administration school for artists to learn the skill and tools they need to thrive.

Profile: Julie Hennrikus

Julie Hennrikus has worked the arts community for over thirty years. Most recently she was the executive director of StageSource, the service organization for the New England theater community. Prior to that she worked at Emerson College, as the General Manager of Emerson Stage, where she also taught arts management classes. Prior to Emerson, she was the Program Manager of the Memorial Hall/Lowell Hall Complex at Harvard University for ten years. She began her career in box office and front of house, including creating the Sanders Theatre (now Harvard) Box Office, running the box office for Mapplethorpe: The Perfect Moment at the ICA in Boston, and working for different shows at the Charles Playhouse.

Julie has been teaching arts administration for over ten years at different colleges. From that experience, she understands that perceived lack of business skills can be obstacles in the path for many artists. She recently opened an online arts administration school for artists called Your Ladders, which is designed to give artists ways to get over those obstacles.

Julie is also a published mystery author, writing three series under the names Julianne Holmes, J.A. Hennrikus and Julia Henry. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America.