UPPER HUDSON

Spencertown Academy Arts Center

http://spencertownacademy.org/

790 Route 203

Spencertown, NY 12165

Hours: Varies depending upon shows, events, and performances. 

Phone: 518-392-3693 Email: [email protected]

 

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.