West Park Cultural Center is thrilled to welcome Allison Shyer as our new Program Manager! With over a decade of experience as an artist, educator, and arts administrator, Allison brings a wealth of passion, expertise, and community-centered vision to WPCC.
From developing youth film and media programs across Philadelphia to championing accessible arts curriculum and inclusive learning environments, Allison has dedicated her career to ensuring that young people have vibrant spaces to explore their creativity and see their voices reflected.
Join us in getting to know Allison, her background, and what inspires her work in arts education and community programming.
A Decade of Creative Leadership and Inclusive Arts Education
Allison brings extensive experience spanning museum education, classroom teaching, and community arts. Prior to joining West Park Cultural Center, she served as an educator at Fleisher Art Memorial, leading middle and high school film programs as well as mobile community arts experiences through Fleisher’s ColorWheels. She has also taught K-5 visual arts through Togetherhood across Philadelphia partner schools.
Her prior work includes serving as a High School Art Teacher and International Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator for the Brooklyn Prospect Charter School network in New York, where she aligned visual arts curricula across five schools and integrated arts into science and humanities classrooms. At the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, Allison served as Teen Programs Educator, spearheading the Youth Spectrum Arts initiative for LGBTQIA youth and mentoring summer youth fellows.
Allison holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bard College and is completing her Master of Arts in Art Education at PennWest University, with research focused on accessibility, Universal Design for Learning and empowering neurodiverse and disabled students in the arts. She has also shared her expertise as a presenter at the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable at Lincoln Center.
Q&A with Allison Shyer
What drew you to West Park Cultural Center?
I was drawn to the arts focus at West Park cultural center and its orientation towards community involvement. I also love that the programming at WPCC is really innovative. I think that cross disciplinary programs like DanceLogic can help participants unlock new neural pathways that lead to deeper learning.
You have spent more than 10 years working in youth arts programs. What keeps you inspired?
I love that young people see the world through fresh eyes. When we let young people create artwork that expresses their authentic perspectives and ideas we can learn so much from them! Also young people are really funny- their work often has a sense of humor that grownups can’t beat.
You believe “the arts are for everyone.” What does that mean to you?
I think every person deserves an outlet for self expression and has something interesting to say. So many grownups talk about crafts they do outside of work or former creative outlets but quickly dismiss them saying “but I am not an artist.” I believe that everyone is an artist, and deserves to have the creative part of themself nurtured because it’s part of the human experience!
What do you hope to bring to WPCC’s programs and the families we serve?
I hope to bring a personable and collaborative approach to my role at WPCC. I love working in community programs because it truly is a group effort. I am excited to get to know the youth and families that participate in our programs and create responsive relationships so our programming continues to reflect the interests and desires of our community.
Can you share a fun fact about yourself?
I once threw out the first pitch at a Mets game when I was 12 years old. This is my biggest athletic achievement because I am not very sporty. boards and remains deeply engaged in her community. She holds a Master of Arts in Urban Studies from Temple University and is a proud graduate of Lincoln University.