*Almost $100,000 still needed for Perkins Center for the Arts As part of #KeepingArtsAlive, Perkins Center for the Arts is inviting Youth Artists from the South Jersey community to share a meaningful piece of artwork or performance from the past year as an entry for a chance to be printed in the 2021 Perkins Center for the Arts Youth Arts Calendar or featured on the Perkins Center YouTube Channel. This spring, art shows and performances throughout our region were canceled due to the pandemic. As part of the #KeepingArtsAlive campaign, Perkins Center for the Arts wants to make sure the hard work of students and arts educators doesn’t go unnoticed. While summer camp will open in July, Perkins funds have reached a dangerously low status. This calendar, and sponsorships for it, is also a fundraiser to support Perkins Center. “I’m excited to showcase the artwork of young people in our
Read more →Dear Friends of Perkins, If this note seems delayed, please accept our apologies as Perkins has carefully considered the appropriate words to communicate during this challenging, and heart-breaking time in our communities. The profound sense of loss is palpable and as we seek ways to understand, communicate, comfort, and support our colleagues, friends, neighbors, and nation, we take pause. In 1965, the Perkins/D’Olier Family gifted the Perkins property in Moorestown to the community with the sole intent of providing a cultural safe space to promote and nurture a loving community. As a Quaker family, the legacy of their fundamental principle of equity for all, has been the guiding tenet, the core value, upon which Perkins Center for the Arts was founded in 1977. Perkins Center for the Arts is a 43-year-old institution that has been a devoted platform for the work of dismantling systemic racism and inequities in our community. Perkins deliberately and
Read more →Dear Perkins Family, I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well and that quarantine has been kind to you. So much has happened within the last few weeks to our communities, to our relationships, and to our lives. However, despite the challenges I am extremely encouraged! Why? Because The Arts are incredibly resilient. Arts organizations have a tremendous “adaptive capacity” and, when life hands The Arts lemons, we paint them, sculpt or carve them, boil them for tea so we can sing, or cook with them! We make lemonade! (Lisa Matera, Instructor and Exhibiting Artist at Perkins Center for the Arts) While the staff has been working remotely to continue bringing high quality arts programming and content to the community, I hope you have seen: Perkins’ Galleries have moved to a new online format. Conservatory instructor Mihaela Matei and her husband Mugu Radu presented a virtual Coffee
Read more →Thank you to the many students, teachers, donors and participants who support Perkins Center for the Arts. We thank you again for your patience and flexibility as we work through this ever-changing situation. Perkins Center for the Arts has cancelled all onsite classes, lessons and programming through April 18. This decision was not made lightly. Perkins is choosing to put the health and safety of our community at the forefront and follow the advice of local, regional, state and federal health officials. At this time, Perkins Spring 2020 Session will begin the week of April 20. We recognize and acknowledge the inconvenience these changes may cause, however, we are confident that by following recommendations that we will all experience better results. As we reach additional decisions about future events we will communicate them directly and often. Many thanks to you, our Perkins family, for being committed partners as we all
Read more →Dear Perkins Friends and Supporters, Perkins Center wants to thank you again for your patience and flexibility as we navigate these uncharted waters together. It is not over stated when I say, we, the Perkins Family, are most concerned about the health and safety of our faculty, students, staff and community. The following decision has not been made lightly but with the most recent health reports being shared by our federal, state and local officials, Perkins is choosing to put the health and safety of our community at the forefront. We will be ceasing all onsite classes, lessons and programming starting tomorrow, March 16 through April 18. At this time Perkins Spring 2020 Session will begin the week of April 20. As we are provided further information, we will communicate any adjustments to the schedule and registrations. We recognize and acknowledge the inconvenience these changes may cause. However, these decisions have been
Read more →Dear Perkins Friends and Supporters, First, let me thank you for your patience and flexibility as we navigate these uncharted waters together. It is not over stated when I say, we, the Perkins Family, are most concerned about the health and safety of our faculty, students, staff and community. The following decision has not been made lightly but with the most recent health reports being shared by our federal, state and local officials, Perkins is choosing to put the health and safety of our community at the forefront. We will be ceasing all onsite classes, lessons and programming starting tomorrow, March 16. At this time, most of Perkins Conservatory Faculty have moved to an online format and will communicate with students directly to identify the most appropriate means of facilitation. As the week of March 16 is a make-up week for visual arts classes, we will be discussing options with
Read more →Dear Friends of Perkins Center for the Arts, We at Perkins Center are committed partners to providing a healthy learning and teaching environment. Earlier in the week, we sent a message to our community about the importance of prioritizing public health and safety. We are monitoring daily updates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the New Jersey Department of Health. At Perkins, the health and well being of our entire community (parents, teachers, students, and staff) is our highest priority. UPDATES: Perkins Winter classes, which are coming to a close this week, will finish the Winter Session. At the present time, make up classes will occur the week of March 16 as planned. Any changes to this schedule will be communicated directly to enrolled students. DeCafe House Concert & Photo 38 Awards Exhibition: In accordance with the recommendations by public health authorities
Read more →We at Perkins Center are committed partners to providing a healthy learning and teaching environment. We are receiving and reviewing daily updates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the New Jersey Department of Health. We want you to know that the health and safety of all participants (parents, teachers, students, and all staff) is a priority in all of our programs at Perkins Center for the Arts. PREVENTION: We will follow the guidelines provided by the New Jersey Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization. At this time, the CDC recommends basic infection control and prevention measures such as, staying home when ill and practicing good respiratory and hand hygiene. Cleaning and disinfecting also serve an important part of the broad approach to preventing the spread of any infectious disease. Please remember:
Read more →On any given day, walking into the Perkins’ Manor in Moorestown, or into the Collingswood Warehouse, one is tantalized by music wafting through the air. Fingers trip lightly across the keys of the pianos while vocalists warm up with scales. The lilting of a flute or the soulful song of a cello greets you at the door, while the drum beat provides energy for the day. More than 100 students visit Perkins weekly for lessons with one of the 30+ instructors who hail from international musical institutions to share their gifts. For more than two decades, Perkins Conservatory of music has been growing and evolving. The Center has shared musical experiences with thousands of students during that time and we look for innovative ways to improve those experiences daily. The goal of the Perkins Conservatory is to give all students lasting and memorable musical experiences that will accompany them throughout
Read more →On Tuesday, October 2, staff and youth from the Center for Family Services welcomed visitors, funders and participants to witness the unveiling of “Spirit Invincible,” at Benson House in Camden. The mural project which began more than 18 months ago came to fruition on this evening when this deeply moving mosaic mural was dedicated. The mural, Spirit Invincible, welcomes residents, staff and visitors to the Benson House. Incorporating more than 2,000 handcrafted clay tiles made by residents, IMANI students, staff, and teaching artist Paul Serena. Through stylized symbolism, the mural follows a spirit’s challenging journey towards successful, achievable outcomes, a relatable story about human perseverance. Upon entering you are met with the Benson House, capturing the home’s architectural beauty and the welcoming hands we offer to all who seek aid and comfort here. From the entryway landing we see a spirit in a small boat in turbulent water, who is
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