For Your Group/
In Your School
The Yocum Institute for Arts Education operates as a resource to provide arts experiences throughout Berks County and beyond. Through Library programs, Olivet Boys & Girls Club: Center for the Arts, Area School Districts, Rural Communities, Special Learning Centers, Retirement Communities, Recreation Centers, and County Parks, the Yocum Institute has worked with all ages, putting on performances, and hosting short- and long-term residencies tailored to the needs of the participants in music, visual arts, theater, dance, and integrated art forms.
​
While these offerings often happen beyond the bricks and mortar of Yocum’s home on Penn Ave, we also provide field trips with immersive arts experiences as well as wrap around programming tied to our theater productions. Every program is designed with strong input from the host/ partner organization to tailor potential outcomes of the experience to meet the needs of the participants. All outreach activities are led by teaching artists who are skilled professionals in their craft.
​
The Yocum Institute is poised to tailor a program or residency to the needs of your students, your group, and you. We offer in-depth arts experiences both at your location or onsite at the Yocum Institute.
Why work with the Yocum Institute?
We are ever creating and moving forward, we offer not only an extensive resource of experts in their art form, but a project director that will assist you in the details and ensure the goals for your group are met. You have the opportunity to create integrated arts experience, a one time chance for exploring something new, and/or an in-depth experience with memories that will be shared for a lifetime.
​
A list of examples and types of offerings is listed below. The duration of the program is dependent on the desired outcomes, project you choose, and the needs of your group.
​
Neighborhood Bridges –a foundation for cultural literacy through creative writing, storytelling, and creative drama in the classroom.
School Day Performances of Theater Productions – Examples include, Poe’s Unhappy Hour tied to the traditional PA 8th grade language arts curriculum, and interactive Theater for Young Audiences Shows designed to engage the 10 and under audience.
SM*ART Program: Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, the Arts, Reconnect Teens focuses on in-person communication, connection, empathy building to address the overall mental health of youth in our community utilizing the arts.
Workshops/ Residencies: One-off or ongoing arts experiences in dance, visual arts, theater, music and/ or integrated arts that introduce and provide skill building in a particular art form. examples include:
Play in a Day, Art-Ventions, Preschool Dance Party, Mural Making
​
Professional Development Workshops: past workshops have been held for BCIU, Reading School District, & Wilson School District Elementary Teachers
Cost
The general baseline cost for one teaching artist is $100 per hour for up to 15 participants, plus materials. The Yocum Institute for Arts Education is an EITC approved organization and will work with you and your organization’s budget. As part of the pledge to provide accessibility, cost and pay structures are discussed with the host to ensure feasibility.
​
Please contact Adam Void at 610-376-1576 ext. 204 or avoid@yocuminstitute.org with any questions.
A teaching artist is a practicing professional artist with the complementary skills and sensibilities of an educator, who engages people in learning experiences in, through, and about the arts."
– Eric Booth