× Upcoming Events Salute to our Partners Thank you to our Donors Campus Maps Ticket Information Support Us Education Mann Music Room Rentals Board and Council Staff Volunteer Past Events
Home Salute to our Partners Thank you to our Donors Campus Maps Ticket Information Support Us Education Mann Music Room Rentals Board and Council Staff Volunteer
Image for Education
Education & Community Engagement

Our mission is to give every young person the opportunity to be inspired by the sights, sounds, and rhythms of the performing arts through the magic and richness of live performances.

The Mann's education and community engagement programs are designed and guided by three core initiatives:

  • Out of School Time (OST) initiatives offer students increased opportunities to explore and develop skills that are otherwise more difficult to access. These programs are shown to improve a student’s in-school engagement and retention of materials, proving the value of a program extends well beyond the time limitations of a specific project.
  • Workforce Development (WFD) programs seek to provide valuable learning environments and opportunities to students and young adults ages 10–25 with the goal of each participant gaining skills and tools needed for success. Through innovative partnerships, the Mann offers a variety of WFD programs targeted to address three main pillars: Awareness, Exposure, and Experience.
  • Creative Placemaking (CP) initiatives help promote growth and enhancements to quality of life within our community through arts and culture programming. Successful Creative Placemaking programs require strategic partnerships across sectors and effectively intertwine cultural institutions, community developers, artists and other stakeholders within the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Mann Music Room Digital Curriculum was created for teachers to use as an engagement tool providing high-quality learning content. The MMR Curriculum takes students to different regions of the world by introducing styles of music, dance, instrumentation, and food representative of each cultural chapter! The six nations highlighted in the chapters of this curriculum are India, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the United States.

The Mann Center Fellowship Program, established in 2019 in partnership with Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP), provides a select number of CSFP students with the opportunity to experience an in-depth view of the Mann Center’s arts education programming.

Motion & Music Academy is an all-year-round after-school arts program for children in grades 4 - 8 and is designed to provide quality choir, drumming, and dance classes to students of the Parkside neighborhood. This partnership-based program helps to bring acclaimed arts organizations to the West Parkside neighborhood. Program partners include:

• Highmark Blue Shield, Presenting Sponsor
• Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Lead Artistic Partner
• Global Leadership Academy, Program Site Partner
• Pennsylvania Ballet, Program Partner, Dance
• Sister Cities Girlchoir, Program Partner, Choir
• Mad Beatz Philly, Program Partner, Drumming

All City Orchestra Summer Academy at the Mann (ACOSA)  is the Mann’s premier summer orchestra training camp for young instrumentalists. The Mann Center, in partnership with The Philadelphia Orchestra, the School District of Philadelphia, and Project 440, annually collaborate to facilitate this high-quality orchestra training experience at zero cost to local students. ACOSA is designed to serve students 6th grade to 12th grade and to provide a growth opportunity, guiding students to work on technical playing skills throughout the summer.

ACOSA is a three week camp with two different programs. Week one and two are traditional full orchestra weeks, while week three focuses on jazz music. Students may choose one or both of the two options. 

Lead Artist Partners include:

• Mann Center for the Performing Arts
• The Philadelphia Orchestra
• Project 440
• The School District of Philadelphia

Voices of Hope, the Mann Center’s annual Black History Month celebration, is a free community event that celebrates African-American culture and influential Philadelphians. The annual celebration honors innovators within a designated field and shines a light on the tremendous achievements of these local black individuals and groups. The evening also features awe-inspiring performances by professional choirs, dance troupes, and students from around Philadelphia.

Young People’s Concert Series events are presented free of charge and provide culturally diverse performing arts programs accessible to students, grades K – 12, and families in an informal atmosphere. Events feature performances by internationally acclaimed, emerging, and regional young regional artists on the Mann Center’s Presser Foundation Stage. Presented at the TD Pavilion at the Mann, YPCS performances are a welcome opportunity for individuals and groups interested in visiting the Mann campus to do so at no cost.

Events are free attend but advanced registration is required.


Contact Us

To learn more about our dynamic Education & Community Engagement opportunities, please contact Naomi Gonzalez, Chief Education, Community Engagement Officer & Vice President, at Education@MannCenter.org. 

Image for Education
Education & Community Engagement

Our mission is to give every young person the opportunity to be inspired by the sights, sounds, and rhythms of the performing arts through the magic and richness of live performances.

The Mann's education and community engagement programs are designed and guided by three core initiatives:

  • Out of School Time (OST) initiatives offer students increased opportunities to explore and develop skills that are otherwise more difficult to access. These programs are shown to improve a student’s in-school engagement and retention of materials, proving the value of a program extends well beyond the time limitations of a specific project.
  • Workforce Development (WFD) programs seek to provide valuable learning environments and opportunities to students and young adults ages 10–25 with the goal of each participant gaining skills and tools needed for success. Through innovative partnerships, the Mann offers a variety of WFD programs targeted to address three main pillars: Awareness, Exposure, and Experience.
  • Creative Placemaking (CP) initiatives help promote growth and enhancements to quality of life within our community through arts and culture programming. Successful Creative Placemaking programs require strategic partnerships across sectors and effectively intertwine cultural institutions, community developers, artists and other stakeholders within the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Mann Music Room Digital Curriculum was created for teachers to use as an engagement tool providing high-quality learning content. The MMR Curriculum takes students to different regions of the world by introducing styles of music, dance, instrumentation, and food representative of each cultural chapter! The six nations highlighted in the chapters of this curriculum are India, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the United States.

The Mann Center Fellowship Program, established in 2019 in partnership with Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP), provides a select number of CSFP students with the opportunity to experience an in-depth view of the Mann Center’s arts education programming.

Motion & Music Academy is an all-year-round after-school arts program for children in grades 4 - 8 and is designed to provide quality choir, drumming, and dance classes to students of the Parkside neighborhood. This partnership-based program helps to bring acclaimed arts organizations to the West Parkside neighborhood. Program partners include:

• Highmark Blue Shield, Presenting Sponsor
• Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Lead Artistic Partner
• Global Leadership Academy, Program Site Partner
• Pennsylvania Ballet, Program Partner, Dance
• Sister Cities Girlchoir, Program Partner, Choir
• Mad Beatz Philly, Program Partner, Drumming

All City Orchestra Summer Academy at the Mann (ACOSA)  is the Mann’s premier summer orchestra training camp for young instrumentalists. The Mann Center, in partnership with The Philadelphia Orchestra, the School District of Philadelphia, and Project 440, annually collaborate to facilitate this high-quality orchestra training experience at zero cost to local students. ACOSA is designed to serve students 6th grade to 12th grade and to provide a growth opportunity, guiding students to work on technical playing skills throughout the summer.

ACOSA is a three week camp with two different programs. Week one and two are traditional full orchestra weeks, while week three focuses on jazz music. Students may choose one or both of the two options. 

Lead Artist Partners include:

• Mann Center for the Performing Arts
• The Philadelphia Orchestra
• Project 440
• The School District of Philadelphia

Voices of Hope, the Mann Center’s annual Black History Month celebration, is a free community event that celebrates African-American culture and influential Philadelphians. The annual celebration honors innovators within a designated field and shines a light on the tremendous achievements of these local black individuals and groups. The evening also features awe-inspiring performances by professional choirs, dance troupes, and students from around Philadelphia.

Young People’s Concert Series events are presented free of charge and provide culturally diverse performing arts programs accessible to students, grades K – 12, and families in an informal atmosphere. Events feature performances by internationally acclaimed, emerging, and regional young regional artists on the Mann Center’s Presser Foundation Stage. Presented at the TD Pavilion at the Mann, YPCS performances are a welcome opportunity for individuals and groups interested in visiting the Mann campus to do so at no cost.

Events are free attend but advanced registration is required.


Contact Us

To learn more about our dynamic Education & Community Engagement opportunities, please contact Naomi Gonzalez, Chief Education, Community Engagement Officer & Vice President, at Education@MannCenter.org.