Create, explore and be inspired.
By: Kahra Buss, Executive Director, Perkins Center for the Arts
I’ve always envisioned the New Year as a sort of “awakening” where individuals, organizations and communities can draw a line and purposefully say: “HERE is where we start.” While the life of a non-profit often functions with a different sense of “new year,” Jan. 1 always seems like a good day to take stock and assess goals, aspirations and initiatives.
Perkins Center for the Arts is no different. This year, as we ring in New Year 2019, Perkins is pleased to announce the return of the Conservatory of Music on Jan. 2, winter classes get under way the week of Jan. 7 and preparations for the nationally recognized Perkins Photo Show will be in full swing.
Photo38 has put out a call for works and will be receiving submissions Jan. 18 and 20. This year’s juror is Paul Cava, who is nationally recognized for his sensual and emotionally driven work and has exhibited widely throughout the United States. In addition to the Juror’s Awards that will be given, Perkins Photo38 will again offer a Museum Purchase Award. One photo will be selected by the Philadelphia Museum of Art for their permanent collection. For nearly two decades a piece from the Perkins photo show has obtained permanent residence within the Smithsonian collection or the Philadelphia Museum of Art. These longstanding relationships exemplify the high quality the Perkins Photo Show attracts from the region.
Continuing in January will be Perkins Free Thursdays with Coffee & Classics concerts on the first and third Thursday of each month, Conversations on Culture and a Parent/Child Art Exploration day. Thursday morning programming is free and open to the public. Join us at 10 a.m. each Thursday and experience Perkins first hand! Another new addition is the “Kids Night Out” on Jan. 11 — drop the kids at Perkins while you head out for errands, to meet friends or just for a few minutes of “post-holiday recovery.”
With a full complement of classes and lessons being offered seven days a week, Perkins is growing with new offerings and opportunities for the communities we serve. From manual photography and oil portraiture classes to Ladies OUT LOUD and Qi Gong, Perkins encourages everyone to explore their creative side. Glass workshops and art journaling are new to the Perkins workshop series and are just the beginning. Parent and child classes in Chinese Calligraphy are new this winter also.
Perkins invites you to come, create, explore and be inspired! New classes and workshops as well as other unique offerings are available via the Perkins website at http://perkinsarts.org/learn/. As 2019 “awakens” take the time to awaken your creative side. See what adventure awaits you in 2019!
