Community Programs
Art is naturally community building, and provides a channel for social and emotional expression. Perkins Center Community Programs are created to reduce financial, emotional, geographic, and social barriers to the Arts. Community programs include onsite programs such as free concerts and discussions, and off-site programs such as in-school artist residencies, Arts experiences at community events, and more.
Join Us in 2023-2024 for Perkins House Concerts!
From Hawaiian jazz to bluegrass to folk music from all over Latin America, Perkins House Concerts bring celebrated folk, jazz, and world music artists from near and far to South Jersey. Formerly known as DeCafe, this series takes place in Perkins’ historic Tudor mansion in Moorestown. The “Living Room” venue offers a close-up and intimate listening experience with emerging artists and types of music you might never have heard.
Perkins House Concerts kick off on September 15 and run on the second Friday of each month through April 2024.
Selected events will feature a pre-concert Community Discussion, an opportunity to meet the musicians and learn more about their music.
Tickets are expected to go quickly for these events and space is limited. A subscription to all seven concerts is $175 ($25 per concert] and single tickets are $30. Admission includes coffee, tea and sweets.
September 15 Ernesto’s Club
Join us for a spirited, joyful and very syncopated evening of choro, samba and Afro-Brazilian popular music. Ernesto’s Club is the piano and percussion duo of Rob Curto and Gregg Mervine. They’re joined by two of South Jersey’s most accomplished Brazilian artists: Fabio Oliveira, percussion, and Fernanda da Silveira on cavaquinho, the ukulele’s Brazilian cousin.
Join us before the show for a free community discussion on Brazilian music at 7pm.
October 13 Alex Hiele Paris Jazz Combo
Travel back in time to a Paris jazz club in the 1950s. Under the direction of bassist, arranger and composer Alex Hiele, the Paris Jazz Combo will perform unique jazz arrangements of popular music from Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Michel Legrand and various French composers.
Michelle Lordi is a world-renowned vocalist and songwriter who delivers vividly expressive and eloquent performances of a wide range of music.
November 10 Jersey Corn Pickers
Valerie Vaughn, singer/songwriter
The Jersey Corn Pickers are a Philadelphia-area band that plays original and traditional high-energy bluegrass and Americana music. Their style is infused with old time, folk, rock, blues, traditional country and all manner of American roots music.
Original acoustic music that brings to life local legends and lore is on the bill with an opening set by Valerie Vaughn, “New Jersey’s Troubadour.”
January 12 Slowey and the Boats
Slowey and the Boats perform Hawaiian-inspired popular music and jazz on a variety of instruments.
February 9 Magdaliz and Her Latin Ensemble Crisol
Allison Strong, Singer/Songwriter
Magdaliz Roura (vocals/guitar) and her Latin Quartet Crisol in the Philadelphia area since 1997. Crisol is Spanish for melting pot. Are dedicated to interpreting a variety of folk and traditional music genres from all over Latin America and the Caribbean (e.g., Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Venezuela).
Allison Strong is an award-winning singer, songwriter and recording artist.The proud daughter of Colombian immigrants, she recently released her second record, Brontë, featuring original music in English and Spanish.
March 8 Jair-Rohm Parker Wells
Prepare to be mesmerized by a blend of avant-garde jazz, classical music, minimalism and ambient noise. World-renowned American experimental musician and composer Jair-Rohm performs his audacious improvisations on a specially designed electro-acoustic bass that envelops the listener in an intense cloud of sound.
April 12 Armenian Social Club
Karinne’ Andonian (vocals and guitar), Roger Mgrdichian (oud), and Haig Hovnanian (dumbeg) draw from folk traditions, ballads and dance rhythms of a culturally diverse region stretching from Anatolia to the Caucasus to New Jersey’s vibrant Armenian diaspora.
Perkins Center’s ARTS (Arts Reaching the Students) in-school residency program places professional artists in local schools for residencies ranging in length from 6 to 20 days. Individually designed projects build visual skills, develop deliberate habits of mind, teach problem-solving strategies and encourage communication among students. Perkins Center’s teaching artists work closely with the school’s art and classroom teachers to incorporate the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, 21st Century Skills and the National Arts Standards into the learning process.
The ARTS Program is co-sponsored by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Past Perkins Center ARTS programs have introduced students to a variety of media, including papermaking, fabric arts, sculpture, painting, theater, dance and mural arts
Themes incorporated into the residencies have included cultural diversity, environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and individual school themes related to character values and year long study areas.
- More Information
- Request a Program for your school
- Contact the Director of Education
Perkins Center is proud to offer center access and benefits to NJ Families First Card holders. These benefits include:
-Free Family Membership to Perkins Center
-Free admission to all public programming including exhibitions, receptions, community concerts;
-10 Tickets put aside for each ticketed program (40% discount off ticket price);
-Automatic qualification for scholarship application (awarded as available – limited number of scholarships available annually).
To take advantage of these benefits please present your pass at the Receptionist Desk or call 856-235-6488 to redeem it.
Perkins Center’s free programs take place both on and off site and are often generously supported by our granting partners and donors.
Free programs include: (each title is a click through tab like Giving Opps)
Coffee & Classics – Take an afternoon break with us during our twice-monthly music series. This series of free concerts takes place from Fall to Spring in our Moorestown location on Thursdays at 2:00pm. These intimate concerts vary from jazz duets, flute, sing-along holiday tunes, classical works, piano solos and more. Check out our events page for more information (link)
Conversations on Culture – Redirect to Conversations on Culture under the Folklife tab
Perkins World Stage – Redirect to World Stage under the Folklife tab
Youth Arts Party – This free Arts party features an exciting array of performance and activities for families of all ages. Youth Arts Party takes place during March, Youth Arts month. In 2022, we welcomed Dominican Republic dance troop Segunda Quimbamba, who performed and taught Bomba Plena dancing! Check out our events page for more information (link)
Pumpkin Party – Celebrate the Autumn season with this costume party at our Moorestown location. Paint a pumpkin, learn some new dance moves, show off your favorite costume, and take plenty of photos at this family friendly event. Check out our events page for more information (link)
Community Arts Experiences – Perkins Center often takes part in local community events like Moorestown Day, the Collingswood Crafts & Fine Arts Festival, Daffodil Day, and MORE! We create unique and exciting arts experiences for event goers to enjoy for free! Are you interested in having us present at your upcoming community event? Contact us at create@perkinscenter.org. Check out our events page for upcoming events (link)
