KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) After more than a decade at the helm of Arts Alive, Jessica Iris will be stepping away from her role as executive director. Her departure marks the end of a chapter that saw the nonprofit grow into a regional leader in arts advocacy, resource-building, and creative community development.

The board announced Iris’s departure with a mix of appreciation and optimism. “It is with sadness and gratitude that the Board of Directors of Arts Alive announces the departure of our Executive Director, Jessica Iris, after eleven remarkable years of dedicated service,” the organization wrote in a statement. “Under her visionary leadership, our organization has flourished, touching countless lives in our community and establishing Arts Alive as a cornerstone of our local cultural landscape. Her passion, creativity, and unwavering commitment have built the strong foundation that will carry us confidently into our next chapter.”

Since 2014, Iris has guided the launch of platforms like Discover Monadnock and championed projects that connected artists, fostered business development, and measured the arts’ regional impact. She was instrumental in founding a home for ceramic artists displaced by the Sharon Arts Center closure and helped incubate groups such as Ashuelot Concerts and Nova Arts. She also led an Arts & Loneliness Study in partnership with Antioch University, deepening the organization’s understanding of how the arts influence wellbeing.

As Iris prepares for her new role as Co-Director at Brattleboro’s In-Sight Photography Project, Arts Alive is engaging the public in shaping what comes next. A community survey has been gathering input on the organization’s programs and future priorities, with emerging themes including increased access to resources, regional arts marketing, and stronger community connection.

“We are approaching this transition thoughtfully and strategically,” said Board Co-Chair Holly McAdams. “Over the coming weeks, we’ll be meeting with advisors, exploring interim leadership and organizational options to ensure seamless continuity of operations while we open a search for new leadership. We’re also excited to engage our community in shaping Arts Alive’s future direction.”

Board member Alison Wilder emphasized the strength of the organization moving forward. “While we will deeply miss Jess’s daily presence,” she said, “we are energized by the opportunities ahead. Arts Alive has never been stronger—we have a robust program portfolio, a dedicated community of supporters, and a clear mission that continues to resonate powerfully in our region.”

Reflecting on what she hopes to see moving forward, Iris shared: “The stories are the most important thing. Arts Alive has been an outlet for creativity, and has been a way for artists to connect with each other, share their stories, and express the value that they bring to our community… The more Arts Alive can continue to share stories of arts in our region, the more folks will understand and value what art and creative expression can do for individuals and communities. It is transformative and essential to our humanity.”

The public is invited to a celebration in Iris’s honor on Tuesday, July 30 at 5 p.m. at The Showroom in Keene.