(GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA) From July 21 through 25 and July 28 to August 1, from 1 through 6 pm, the GoggleWorks summer After School Arts Program (ASAP) will commence in a partnership with the Wyomissing Institute of the Arts and the Cops -N- Kids reading program. Fifteen students, ranging in age from 6 to 14 years old from the Reading Area School District, will be participating each week in this free art and theater camp. The GoggleWorks will be hosting art shows as well, showcasing art for the students, their friends and families each Friday of the camp from 5 to 5:30 pm. The GoggleWorks was also able to provide lunches and snacks for the students though a partnership with the Greater Berks Food Bank.

Each day, a teacher from the Wyomissing Institute of the Arts is on hand to work with the students in learning about theater and interacting with each other through role-playing.
The GoggleWorks is proud to be joined by youth members of the Berks PRIDE organization who will be reading alongside artist and staff volunteers from the GoggleWorks, as well as members of the community. The Berks PRIDE members will be reading to the ASAP students from July 28 to July 31. The books they receive have been donated from the community and at the end of the week each ASAP student will be able to take home their own book. The GoggleWorks especially thanks Herb and Sue Wachs for collecting the books for ASAP.
The After School Arts Program is an arts-based program held during after school hours and the summer months for children. During ASAP, students work with specially trained artists and staff to not only help develop their artistic abilities, but to encourage positive and productive behavior through critical thinking, individual power and creativity. The GoggleWorks ASAP program is funded by The Bon-Ton Stores Foundation, St. Paul Travelers Foundation and Conestoga Telephone and Telegraph Company, a subsidiary of D&E Communications, Inc. and Capital BlueCross. The GoggleWorks is also pleased to partner with the Wyomissing Institute of the Arts, the Greater Berks Food Bank, and Greater Reading Cops 'n Kids to make ASAP a success. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor of the ASAP program can contact Julie Sweitzer at jsweitzer@goggleworks.org or by calling 610.374.4600.

The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is a community art and cultural resource center for Berks County and central and southeastern Pennsylvania, and is the largest, most comprehensive interactive arts center of its kind in the country. The mission of the GoggleWorks is "to nurture the arts, foster creativity, promote education and enrich the community." The GoggleWorks is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 9 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. Free parking is available in the GoggleWorks parking lot, accessible from 2nd, 3rd or Walnut Streets. For more information, call the GoggleWorks at 610-374-4600, or visit www.goggleworks.org.