Spencertown Academy Arts Center
UPPER HUDSON
http://spencertownacademy.org/
790 Route 203 P.O. Box 80
Spencertown, NY 12165
Hours: Varies depending upon shows, events, and performances. Notes: Em ail: info@spencertownacademy.org
Phone: 518-392-3693
Historical Description:
The lovely Greek revival building that houses The Spencertown Academy was built in 1847 as an Academy for the training of young men and women to become teachers. It was founded by Dr. Timothy Woodbridge. Woodbridge was a grandson of Stockbridge preacher Jonathan Edwards and a cousin of Aaron Burr. The money to build the Academy was raised by Dr. Woodbridge from members of the community. The Academy was designed and built by Benjamin Ambler. In about 1879 the Academy became a Union Free School, a two-room schoolhouse for the children of Spencertown grades one through eight. It remained a school until 1970. In 1972, seeking to save the classic building, a group of concerned citizens and artists formed the Spencertown Academy Society and established the cultural center, which serves the community with artistic events, classes and exhibits. In addition, the society has also been restoring the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Site:
The Arts Center features a 110 seat auditorium used to host music concerts, spoken word programs, small theater pieces, classic films, and classes in yoga, music and dance. The Center features two galleries. Gallery I shows monthly exhibitions of regional visual artists. Gallery II features the work of fine craft artisans from the region including quilters, ceramicists, jewelers, weavers, textile artists, woodworkers and many more. The Backer Room is a restored classroom and holds the Center’s educational programs.
Note: The Academy is available for community meetings, and for rental by other art groups and for private parties, schedule permitting.
Directions:
From Albany and points north: Take I-90 East to exit b-2 onto the Taconic State Parkway. Take second exit (Austerlitz and Chatham/Spencertown - Route 203). Bear right at exit and continue on Route 203 for three miles. The Academy is on your left, just past the village center.
From Hudson: Take Route 66 North to Chatham. At Chatham's only traffic light, turn right and go exactly 5 miles. The Academy is on your left, just past the village center.
From Great Barrington: Take Route 23 south to Route 71, turn right onto Route 71 and follow until it joins New York Route 22. Turn right on 22 and go approximately 7 miles to Austerlitz and the junction of Route 203. Turn left onto 203 and go 4 miles. The Academy is on your right. From Pittsfield: take Route 20 to Route 41 to Route 295. Turn right on 295, go two miles to intersection of New York Route 22, turn left onto 22 and go approximately 7 miles to Austerlitz and the junction of Route 203. Turn right onto 203 and go 4 miles. The Academy is on your right.
From NYC and points south: Take the Taconic State Parkway to the exit for Chatham and Austerlitz/Spencertown-Route 203. At exit turn left onto Route 203 and go for three miles. The Academy will be on your left, just past the village center.
