Now Celebrating 75 years Serving our community - Yocum Institute for Arts Education -

Making the Arts Make a Difference

Yocum Institute for Arts Education's  Mission Statement

The Yocum Institute for Arts Education's mission is to operate an educational facility for the arts in Southeastern Pennsylvania, to provide the best instruction possible, and to provide performance and exhibition opportunity to students of all ages while maintaining a realistic tuition base.

The Mission of Primary Stages:

Integrating creative drama, music, dance and visual art, the mission of Primary Stages is to inspire hearts and imaginations; help children and teens develop their creative spirit while promoting confidence in themselves and the world around us.  Primary Stages programming also fosters an on-going appreciation for all art forms.

Celebrating 75 years:

The Institute of the Arts celebrated 75 years of service to the community through the arts with a new name and a new look.  As of July 4, the Institute of the Arts changed its name to The Yocum Institute for Arts Education.

The name further defines the Institute’s core mission of arts education and the future direction of “Making the Arts Make a Difference” through extensive outreach and partnerships in our community. The name change honors long-time donor, board member and community philanthropist, James H. Yocum, whose philanthropic focus is education.

Our History...

Established in 1934 by Chester Wittell as the Wyomissing Institute of Fine Arts, the Institute opened its doors with 3 music students. Under Lila Lerch, the first managing director, the Institute grew to over 300 students and expanded its offerings to include music, dance, theatre and the visual arts instruction. An arts-based preschool and kindergarten were added and the Institute became licensed by the state.

Over the years, the Institute has forged partnerships with schools and other non-profit organizations to increase access to the arts for both arts and non-arts outcomes.  In 2005 in response to a challenge grant, it launched the “Learning Through the Arts” campaign. Funds from the campaign were used to research and develop Primary Stages the Institute’s signature Theatre program for children’s productions and integrated arts education  

Primary Stages newest venture is a partnership with Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis formed in January 2008 when the Institute became one of 13 National sites to offer Neighborhood Bridges. Neighborhood Bridges is a program integrated into the classroom curriculum that builds critical literacy through the theatre arts.

Institute educational programs touch the lives of thousands of people each year through onsite instruction and extensive outreach programs with libraries, public and private schools, retirement communities and other not for  profit organizations.

The Institute is also home to the Yocum Gallery that serves as a venue for exhibits and performances, the Berks Art Alliance  and ”Art Goes to School”.