Inspiring Students. Enriching Education.
What is YANJEP?
Young Audiences Arts For Learning - New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania (YANJEP, or YA for short) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children’s education by bringing vibrant, enriching performances and expert instruction into schools, making the arts accessible to every student.
At YA, we bring professional teaching artists into schools to engage students through performances or hands-on art-making connected to the curriculum.
Our Mission
To inspire young people and to expand their learning through the arts.
Our Vision
We work toward a future where all children in the New Jersey & Eastern PA region engage in quality arts learning that nurtures creativity, expands cultural awareness, and fosters the development of critical thinking skills.
Arts Education is Essential
Our research, and national research shows, arts education:
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Improves student attendance
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Increases empathy and understanding of individuals who are different
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Increases student engagement, during the program and throughout the school day
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Boosts confidence, focus, self-control, and self-management
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Reduces anxiety; and
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Increases family engagement
How We Partner with Schools
We ensure the arts remain central, not supplemental.
We work with our school partners to navigate challenges like:
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Budget & Funding
We are committed to making enriching arts programs possible despite school budget limitations.
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Curriculum Fit
Our programs align with National Core Arts Standards, New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, Pennsylvania Academic Standards, NJDOE SEL Competencies, and 21st Century Skills.
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Teacher Capacity
In-school residencies and teacher professional development give educators the opportunity to learn with us, and carry creative learning forward to all their students.
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Professional Staff
Our professional staff have decades of experience advocating for the arts and adapting to changes in curriculum, school leadership, and educational trends.
Bringing the Arts to You
Our model brings arts experiences, led by professional teaching artists, directly to your students in the auditorium or classroom.
By partnering with schools, we eliminate key barriers to participation, making the arts accessible to students of every socioeconomic background, geographic area, and ability.
Program Formats include:
Assembly Performances
Interactive workshops for smaller groups or individual classes
In-school artist residencies, for in depth projects
Professional development
Family events
Ready to Elevate Your Curriculum?
We will work with you to establish an arts education program that meets your needs and benefits your students. We have a long track record of accomplishing just that for schools in the region.
Program Guide
Explore our complete, interactive, easy-to-share program guide and discover the wide range of enriching performances, workshops, and assemblies available to you and your students.
Our 50+ Year History
Since our founding in 1973, YA has grown into the region’s largest arts education organization. While our early work focused on introducing children to classical music, today we are a valued school partner, working with skilled teaching artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. We provide quality in-school programs and workshops across all art forms, and work with schools to integrate the arts with lesson plans and teaching goals.
We are a proud affiliate of the national network Young Audiences, Inc., comprised of 31 arts education organizations across the country.
