Central to the mission and values of Arch Performances is a desire to educate through the arts and reach a broad spectrum of individuals in our community. The guest performing artist series accomplishes this via a variety of masterclasses, workshops, artist discussions, and the Edge (Educating the Next Generation Through the Arts) program.

Educating the Next Generation Through the Arts

This program supports in-depth residencies, hands-on learning, increased cultural awareness, and pathways to higher education. The outreach entails 5-6 programs annually for each school including live performance assemblies, masterclasses, customized artist workshops, and campus visits for extended learning. The expected outcomes for both schools are a likelihood of higher education for student participants.

P.S. 28 Partnership

In spring 2020, Arch Performances began a relationship with P.S. 28 in Paterson, NJ, a PreK-8 serving Blue-Ribbon public school with a total enrollment of approximately 430 children.  This opportunity came about through an already standing relationship between Ramapo College of NJ’s Teacher Education Department and P.S. 28 to prepare college students for teaching in the nuances of an urban environment.

The goals of this program are to:

•  create direct encounters between each student at P.S. 28 and a guest performing artist
•  present a diverse group of artistic disciplines that support the learning goals of the art curriculum at P.S. 28
• provide opportunities for the P.S. 28 students to engage with artists from different cultural backgrounds exploring content from life experiences unlike their own
• expose P.S. 28 students to the opportunities provided by an education in the arts and explore how those can lead to careers

Passaic Preparatory Academy Partnership

In winter 2023, Arch Performances began a relationship with Passaic Public Academy, a grades 6-12 school offering pathways of study that include Humanities/Liberal Arts, Dramatic Arts, Visual Arts, and Musical Arts.

The goals of this program are to:

• provide opportunities for students to explore trending and future careers
• help students discover their interests and talents / identify personal and social strengths
• bridge the divide between high school and college / career programs which leave too many students behind in our most underserved and diverse communities

The Art of Being a Neighbor

In the spring of 2024, Arch Performances began conversations with two local women’s shelters about forming a partnership to aid their mothers and children. The outreach for both shelters includes providing an opportunity for the women and children to attend performances at no cost.

Several Sources

Several Sources founded in 1981, is a non-profit serving young and expectant mothers with shelter services. They work to educate young people to make healthy life choices while providing counseling, parenting skills and education opportunities.

The goals of this program are to:

• give them activities to participate in with their babies to aid in parenting skills
• provide get togethers for mom’s night out events that elicit joy and allow them to bond as a community
• support their goals for education

Strengthen Our Sisters

Strengthen Our Sisters, founded in 1987, is a non-profit shelter and supportive service program for homeless, battered women and their dependent children.

The goals of this program are to:

• provide events for both families and moms that aid in their goal to teach decision making and instill self-confidence
• support their goals for education
• increase their awareness of arts while bringing them uplifting experiences

RCNJ Faculty, Staff & Student Resources

New Perspectives: A Faculty Resource Guide to the Arts Fall 2024