Our Community

Our Community

Our Community

At Perkins Center for the Arts, we believe that all communities thrive through the arts. That vision guides everything we do—from arts education and exhibitions to performances, partnerships, and outreach.

Our programs are designed to reflect the people we serve, welcoming individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. By reducing barriers, expanding access, and creating inclusive environments, we make space for everyone to grow creatively and connect meaningfully through the arts.

Our Community

Our Commitments

“We value access to the Arts as an inalienable human right.”
Perkins celebrates the full range of human experience—across race, culture, gender, age, ability, and identity—and aims to reflect that richness in our programs, staff, and leadership.

“We value a culture of inclusivity and equity.”
We work to close gaps in arts access by offering free programs, tuition assistance (when available), and partnerships that reach communities historically excluded from the arts.

“We value the Arts as essential to the social and emotional well-being of individuals and their communities.”
We foster environments where everyone—students, artists, audience members, and volunteers—can participate fully, comfortably, and authentically.

“We value the importance of physical, emotional, financial, and geographic arts accessibility.”
Our campuses, programs, and communications are designed with access in mind, and we’re continuously working to improve how we support people with disabilities and other access needs.

Ongoing Initiatives

A man wearing a dark jacket and a teal t-shirt smiles widely and gives a thumbs-up while working on a craft or painting project in an art studio setting. Option 2 (Focus on Inclusive Programs)

Perkins continues to improve physical access at both campuses—including the installation of a new ADA-compliant bathroom in Collingswood, a new ramp underway in Moorestown, and future ADA-accessible spaces planned for the Dance Studio/Tree House. Participants can request accommodations when registering for programs or attending events.

Ongoing partnerships with Bancroft and the Y.A.L.E School provide opportunities for individuals of varying abilities to participate in Perkins programming.

Perkins’ offers no-cost classes and workshops for veterans, providing space for creativity, connection, and self-expression. These programs are supported through grants and ongoing community partnerships.

Veterans Guitar Chapter and Art for Veterans: Drawing & Painting are in their third year, with classes in glass and other mediums being added to the schedule.

Click here to see Perkins Veterans Offerings: LINK

Our Arts in Healing programs support creative engagement in hospice centers, schools, senior centers, and other community care settings. Through hands-on arts experiences, we work with participants of all ages to promote emotional well-being, self-expression, and social connection.

Perkins’ exhibitions reflect and amplify the diverse cultural landscape of South Jersey and beyond. Featuring artists whose work reflects diverse cultural perspectives, including Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, Black, LGBTQ+, and immigrant communities, exhibitions are free and open to the public. These stories expand understanding and invite connection across experiences.

Perkins values the impact that intergenerational interactions can have in our communities. Through family programs like Mini-musicians or Parent/Child Pottery, senior care partnerships, and family-focused events, Perkins’ offers opportunities for creative exchange across generations. Intergenerational programming supports the health and wellbeing of our communities and Arts in Healing initiatives.

Perkins collaborates with local artists, students, and cultural leaders to shape programs that reflect the interests, traditions, and lived experiences of the communities we serve. This ensures that our offerings stay relevant, responsive, and grounded.

Everything from classes offered by independent working artists to community connections to events like the World Stage series is informed and led by our communities.

By partnering experienced and seasoned artists with new and emerging artists, Perkins provides paid mentor and mentee opportunities that offer hands-on experience in arts education and curation.

Perkins offers classes, exhibitions, and outreach programs designed with older adults in mind—supporting social connection, memory, movement, and lifelong creativity.

Program offerings include:

– Senior Stage

– Clay your way

See more here: Creative Aging Classes

Launched in 2009 in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, NJ Folklife at Perkins has evolved into a vibrant community resource bringing to life South Jersey’s vibrant folklife traditions through fieldwork, research, and programming at our two locations in Collingswood and Moorestown and throughout South Jersey.

Please visit the Folklife Webpage: NJ Folklife at Perkins

Looking Ahead

Perkins is actively engaging in improving its bilingual outreach and materials to reflect the languages spoken in our surrounding communities. This includes updated signage, translated class descriptions, and future bilingual instruction.

Interested in helping expand bilingual access?

If you’re a multilingual teaching artist or translator—or simply want to support this work—fill out our interest form.

Building on our current efforts, Perkins is planning additional facility upgrades to improve navigation, comfort, and mobility at both campuses. Perkins’ FY25-27 strategic plan includes securing funding for: An elevator for our Collingswood location; ADA-compliant pathways in Moorestown and Collingswood; clearer signage; and expanded accessibility for outdoor spaces and digital platforms.

Want to support our accessibility efforts?

We’re seeking community partners, feedback, and funding to help bring these improvements to life. To get involved or share input, contact Executive Director Kahra Buss at kbuss@perkinscenter.org.

Perkins is actively building partnerships with cultural, educational, and community-based organizations led by or serving people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities. These collaborations help to inform programming, outreach, and shared events.

Represent a community-based or cultural organization?

We welcome collaborations that reflect and serve the many communities of South Jersey. To start a conversation, contact ahunt@perkinscenter.org.

Perkins is developing new mentorship opportunities to support emerging artists, youth leaders, and early-career arts workers. These programs will connect participants with professionals in arts education and curation.

Want to get involved as a mentor or mentee?

To start a conversation, contact ahunt@perkinscenter.org.

Perkins ongoing efforts to expand our Arts in Healing partnerships with hospitals, behavioral health providers, and veterans’ organizations. We are also exploring new opportunities in aging care facilities, recovery centers, and other community care settings.

Interested in Partnering?

If you represent a hospital, behavioral health provider, veterans group, or community care organization and would like to collaborate, please contact Executive Director Kahra Buss at kbuss@perkinscenter.org or visit perkinsarts.org/arts-in-healing.

To support sustainable development and succession planning, Perkins is launching a pathway for emerging leaders to explore future service on our board and committees. The program includes orientation, mentorship, and opportunities to engage with Perkins’ mission and community.

Interested in the program?

Fill out our board pipeline interest form

A close-up, candid photo of four toddlers, from a diverse group, intensely focused on a table craft activity during an outdoor community event.

Community Resources

We’ve compiled these tools and organizations to support artists, cultural workers, and community members in South Jersey and beyond.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): Offers grants and supports arts programs nationwide.

Americans for the Arts: Advocates for the arts and provides resources for artists and arts organizations.

Creative Capital: Offers funding and support for artists working in a variety of disciplines.

Fractured Atlas: Provides fiscal sponsorship, insurance, and other services to artists.

ArtEquity: This organization provides resources and training on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the arts. They offer tools, workshops, and consulting services to help arts organizations create more equitable practices.

ArtPride: Advances, promotes, and advocates for the arts as essential to the quality of life of every citizen and to the economic vitality of our state.

South Jersey Cultural Alliance (SJCA): A great resource for connecting with other artists and organizations in the area. They offer grants, workshops, and networking opportunities.

Rutgers University Art Galleries: Offers exhibition opportunities and educational programs.

George Family Center for Healing Arts: Supports health and well-being through the arts. Our programs are designed to enhance individual care, improve education, and build stronger communities.

The Camden County College Art Gallery: Provides exhibition space for emerging and established artists.

The Burlington County Library System: Offers art programs and workshops for people of all ages.

Queer|Art: Supports LGBTQ+ artists and their work.

Comprehensive LGBTQ+ Healthcare: The center provides a full range of primary care services, including wellness visits, vaccinations, and routine healthcare.

Leeway Transformation Award: Provides unrestricted annual awards of $15,000 to women, trans*, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers living in Greater Philadelphia who create art for social change and have done so for the past five years or more, demonstrating a long-term commitment to social change work.

Local VFW Posts and American Legion Posts: These organizations often offer social events, support groups, and community service opportunities. Some may have arts-related programs or can connect veterans with other artists.

Trenton Vets Center: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.

Project Refit: Combating isolation and changing the negative connotation around getting mental health support.

Arts for the Aging: This organization provides art programs and resources for older adults, including classes, workshops, and exhibitions.

Lifetime Arts: This organization offers a wide range of resources for creative aging, including training for arts educators, program models, and a database of creative aging resources.

Black Art Futures Fund: Provides grants and resources to Black artists.

National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC): This organization supports Latino arts and culture nationwide.

Asian Cultural Council: This organization supports the work of Asian artists and cultural organizations.

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF): Provides resources and advocacy for artists with disabilities.

VSA: The arts program of the Kennedy Center, VSA supports artists with disabilities through education, advocacy, and artistic opportunities.


Women’s Caucus for Art: An organization dedicated to promoting and advancing the work of women artists.

WomenArts: Dedicated to increasing visibility and opportunities for diverse women artists in all art forms.

National Museum of Women in the Arts: This museum champions women artists and provides resources, exhibitions, and educational programs.

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