Photo courtesy of Tim Arterbury on Unsplash
Berks County artists and arts organizations are invited to take part in a series of Arts Town Hall listening sessions focused on the needs and future of the local arts community.
The Reading Musical Foundation, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Yocum Institute for Arts Education, and BCTV are partnering to host five sessions at locations throughout Berks County. The conversations will provide an opportunity for participants to talk about what they are experiencing now, where they see gaps or opportunities, and what a strong arts community could look like in the years ahead.
The initiative comes at a time of transition for the local arts community and reflects a shared commitment among the participating organizations to listen before determining what comes next.
“We want to begin by listening,” said Vicki Haller Graff, Executive Director of Yocum Institute, and Keri Shultz, President of Reading Musical Foundation. “There are many people and organizations doing important creative work throughout Berks County, and this is an opportunity to hear directly from them about what they need, what they’re seeing, and what they hope for the future.”
Artists, arts educators, creative professionals, and representatives of arts and cultural organizations are invited to participate in one of the following sessions:
- Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 12 p.m. — Yocum Institute, 3000 Penn Ave., West Lawn, PA 19609
- Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. — Reading Civic Theatre, 4350 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, PA 19606
- Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. — Hamburg Strand, 6 S. Fourth St., Hamburg, PA 19526
- Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. — Clay on Main, 313 Main St. R, Oley, PA 19547
- Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 12 p.m. — GoggleWorks, 201 Washington St., Reading, PA 19601
Sessions are limited to 20 participants and are expected to last 90 minutes. Due to the intimate design of these listening sessions and limited space, organizations are asked to send one representative to ensure there is enough space for organizations, artists, and volunteers from a multitude of disciplines and geographical areas to participate.
Following the listening sessions, a community-wide survey will provide an opportunity for additional voices, including arts patrons and other members of the public, to participate. Feedback from the sessions and survey will then be compiled into a summary report and shared with the community.
The listening sessions are intended as the beginning of a broader conversation about how Berks County can support a strong, connected, and sustainable arts community for the future.
Registration information
Arts Listening Session – Sign Up
About the partner organizations
Reading Musical Foundation advances and advocates for music education and appreciation throughout Berks County.
GoggleWorks transforms lives through unique interactions with art.
Yocum Institute enriches our community by connecting and engaging individuals through arts education and artistic expression.
BCTV empowers people and engages community through media.
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