Mission:

The Yocum Institute for Arts Education’s mission is to connect and enrich our community through arts education, creative performance and innovative program

About Us:

The Institute of the Arts celebrated 75 years of service to the community with a new name and a new look. As of July 4, 2009, the Institute is “The Yocum Institute for Arts Education.” The name change honors long-time donor, board member and community philanthropist, James H. Yocum, whose philanthropic focus is education. The name further defines the Institute’s core mission of arts education and the future direction of “Making the Arts Make a Difference”.

Today, quality instruction and access to the arts remain major priorities with innovative programs and expanding partnerships helping to widen the impact and benefits of the arts in our community. Our vision of “Making the Arts Make a Difference” has increased the number of people served through private instruction, on site classes, exhibits, productions, integrated arts summer camps and outreach programs from 8,000 in 2008 and 2009 to over 14,000 in 2010.

The Institute offers a preschool and kindergarten that integrates the arts into experiential learning, community wide off-site arts programs, workshops with renowned teaching artists, performances and onsite-ongoing classes in the Visual Arts, Dance, Music and Theater including; Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media; Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Salsa, Hip Hop, Voice, Jazz Composition, String, Percussive, Brass and Wind Instruments, Acting, Scene Study, Improvisation, Sketch Comedy and much more.