The Manship Artists Residency is a 501(c)3 nonprofit artists residency. We host working artists and thought leaders, providing them time and space to explore, be inspired, and create, while nurtured by the serene surroundings of Starfield on the northeast coast of Massachusetts.
As an organization, the Manship Artists Residency aims to carry on the legacy of Paul, his son John, and daughter-in-law Margaret Cassidy – all of whom found community and great inspiration while living and working on Cape Ann. By working to protect and build on this legacy, the Manship Artists Residency is contributing to the revival of the artistic community that once flourished at Starfield.
We promote the power of art by fostering individual and collaborative creativity inspired by the Manship family legacy, whose Cape Ann property, Starfield, continues to provide a home for art-making amid its magical setting in nature. We serve at the intersection of art and culture, providing local and global communities space dedicated to self-discovery and creative exploration.
How We Got Here
The Manship Artists Residency was established in 2015 to preserve Starfield, the property where sculptor Paul Manship had his summer residence and studios in the village of Lanesville, Gloucester in Massachusetts.
One of the most celebrated American artists of the 20th century, Paul Manship created Starfield as a retreat for himself, his family and his friends. The site was and is defined by the principles of restore, repurpose, reuse, and recycle. The Manship Artists Residency embraced this philosophy as a guide, and it is upon this foundation which the organization’s mission and purpose have been built.
The Manship Artists Residency purchased Starfield in August 2017, and began renovations on the artist residence shortly thereafter. The Manship Artists Residency is protecting this site for today and future generations by continuing the legacy of working artists on Cape Ann through an artist residency program.
The Manship Artists Residency aims to become a model for contemporary art making, celebrating the following values: creative development, fellowship, a sense of place, learning, and community. At the heart of our purpose is a vibrant international residency program, offering a place for working artists and thought leaders, for the development of new creative work and experiential learning in the arts, and for connection to the local community of Cape Ann and the natural world.
The Manship Artists Residency is connected to a long cultural tradition of art in Cape Ann. For the past 150 years, artists have been attracted to the North Shore of Boston and Gloucester. They came for various reasons: to spend leisure time with friends and family in an idyllic setting, to seek inspiration from the local culture and natural environment, and to escape from the pressures of city life. The Lanesville art community had a unique influence on American sculpture, as it hosted one of the nation’s most important communities of working artist–sculptors. Starfield is the sole remaining artist residence and studio from this early era that has been repurposed in the mission and spirit intended by creatives of this bygone era and by the Manship Family of artists. The Manship Artists Residency honors its responsibility to both the land and the community as stewards of this legacy.
