Summer Institute

If our youth could change the world, what would it look like?

Summer Institute 2027
Registration opens January 2027

Summer Institute is a multi-track leadership development program that trains young people to use their passion for the arts to promote social justice and equity.

Across the Twin Cities, our students are positively impacting their communities by standing up, speaking out, and moving others with the power of performance.

Encourage the extraordinary young person in your life to participate in our nationally recognized art for social change program. Our students work alongside professional artists and like-minded youth to eliminate racism and intolerance one performance at a time.

Daily lunches and snacks are included with registration. Questions? Please contact our youth engagement team at youth@penumbratheatre.org.

“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”
—Angela Davis, Activist, professor, and author

“We tend to think of healing as something binary. But healing and growth take place on a continuum, with innumerable points between utter brokenness and total health.”
—Dr. Resmaa Menakem, Therapist, author, and trauma specialist

“I believe that one of the most beautiful things about theater is that no one artist can do it alone.”
—Harrison David Rivers, Playwright and Penumbra company member

“You cannot use someone else’s fire. You can only use your own. And in order to do that, you must first be willing to believe that you have it.”
—Audre Lorde, Black feminist, lesbian, poet, mother, warrior

“You cannot give energy if you’re not on fire on the inside.”
—Rev. Jesse Jackson, American civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and political activist

“Within Penumbra's walls, a genuine spirit of care breathes and thrives, weaving a rich and tender atmosphere where creative courage is not just invited, but deeply embraced.”
—Lester Purry, Actor and Penumbra company member