How Des Moines Performing Arts CEO Monica Holt starts her day
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Monica Holt inside the Civic Center. Photo: Linh Ta/Axios
Like most in the theater industry, Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) executive director Monica Holt is a night owl — staying up late to watch shows at the Civic Center or scheduling (not sending!) emails at 10pm.
- "When there's not a show or anything else, I would love to be in bed by 11pm. My husband would tell you that's mostly a fantasy," she tells Axios. "More typically, I'm in bed sometime between midnight and 1am, and it's just — old habits are hard to break."
State of play: Holt comes to Des Moines after a 16-year career at the Kennedy Center in D.C. as the marketing director and, ultimately, senior vice president of artistic planning. She left after President Trump appointed a new board to lead the theater.
- The Virginia native then took time to travel around the country and visit other arts venues. Her first time visiting Des Moines was when she landed for her job interview.
- "I love the Des Moines airport," Holt jokes. "I'm going to be an ambassador."
She started at DMPA on Jan. 9 and is looking forward to promoting existing programs like the Willis Broadway Series and the nonprofit's education programs.
- She's also excited to bring programs she's worked with before to Des Moines, like Dance for Parkinson's, and engage more people in live performances.
- "We know that when folks are in a theater laughing together, they are actually experiencing higher serotonin levels than when they're sitting on a couch at home."
How Holt starts her day:
⏰ Wake up: 7:30am, though "no two mornings are the same."
🍳 Breakfast: No food, but she'll make an iced coffee with skim milk before commuting from West Des Moines to the Civic Center.
📱 What she's reading: "I tend to do the thing everyone says not to do, which is — I will look at my phone."
- After sending work messages, she'll turn on a podcast, which has lately been "Good Hang With Amy Poehler."
💡 Advice for aspiring arts professionals: "Stay curious. Be a sponge."
- Young people should try to consume as much art as possible, even if on YouTube or from the library.