Community Engagement

Community Engagement

Community Engagement


Outreach to the Community

Throughout the year, RoCA’s professional teaching artists provide innovative art programs (often free of charge) to underserved communities. Whether in school, after school, on our campus or in our community, the arts encourage individuals of all ages to reach their full potential through creative expression. For students in local schools, RoCA’s programs are designed to encourage critical thinking, visual communication and cultural understanding to help close the achievement gap that exists in Rockland County public schools. RoCA’s Outreach Programs include exhibition-based school tour/workshops, family workshops, mentorships, programs for special populations, after school art and arts-in-education. RoCA is prepared to custom design programs to meet the unique creative needs of any group.

Arts-in-Education Programs

RoCA’s arts-in-education programs provide innovative, standards-based visual art programs to K-12 schools through customized residencies. RoCA’s interdisciplinary school programs integrate art into science, math, language arts, social studies and history. 

Through hands-on, interdisciplinary art programs, students experience a broad range of art styles and techniques while broadening their understanding of the world. With an emphasis on self-directed learning, RoCA uses art to teach academic subjects. 

RoCA will create specialized art lessons in collaboration with public school classroom teachers. Past programs have included:

Terrariums

The Invention Project

Animal Habitats

Hudson River Painting

Shadow Boxes

Mini Murals of the Great Depression

Dioramas

Thinking in 3-D: Wood Sculpture

For workshop pricing and availability, please contact Daly Flanagan at 845-358-0877 (ext. 17). 

Exhibition-based School Programs 

RoCA offers an art program to local schools that combines an interactive gallery tour with a hands-on studio art workshop. RoCA's interactive exhibit tours introduce students to contemporary art through activities, discussion and hands-on art projects. The two hour tour/workshop runs from 10:00am-12:00pm and is offered Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Availability of this special program is limited. For more details or to schedule this tour and workshop, please contact Daly Flanagan at 845-358-0877 (ext. 17). Group fee: $250 (for up to 25 students).

Art Worlds: Free Afterschool Art Classes in East Ramapo

Funded by Wells Fargo Bank

Art Worlds provides free art classes in neighborhood settings led by professional teaching artists. These in-depth studio classes promote creative expression, confidence and critical thinking while introducing new techniques and concepts. The program responds to urgent community requests for collaboration in the East Ramapo Central School District. Art Worlds is a partnership with schools and community centers including: the Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center (serving grades K-8), the Excellence in Education & Living Environments for Families (EELEF) program at Spring Valley Commons (serving grades 1-12), Kakiat Elementary School (K-5), and Pomona Middle School. RoCA is collaborating with these sites to provide a safe and enriching haven for creative activities during after school hours.

RoCA’s Community Partners

Collaboration with several non-profits enables RoCA to better engage with our diverse audiences. Community partners include: Rockland BOCES, East Ramapo School District, Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center, Rockland ARC, Excellence in Education and Living Environments for Families, Rockland 21C: Collaborative for Youth and Children, the Summit School, Rockland Culture, Dominican College, the Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center, Volunteer Counseling Services of Rockland, and the Rockland Pride Center.