A Brief History of the Spencertown Academy

The Spencertown Academy Arts Center is  located in Spencertown, N.Y., a tiny village set in the rural countryside of Columbia County in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. In its lovely 1840's Greek Revival schoolhouse, the Academy presents concerts, readings, and fine art  exhibits as well as arts-related workshops and classes.

From the children's art program

Painting by Jimmy Youngerman

Melissa Sarris' Quilt

The auditorium

The 110 seat auditorium is used to present:

• classical, non-western and traditional music concerts
• Cabaret in the Country
• spoken word programs
• performance art and small theater pieces 

Gallery I

Gallery I shows exhibitions, which change monthly, of the works of regional visual artists, including painters, sculptors, photographers and mixed media artists.

Gallery II

Gallery II is a bright, restored space for different kinds of exhibitions. Usually the space is host to the work of the many fine craft artisans from the area including quilters, ceramicists, jewelers, weavers, textile artists, woodworkers and many more.

The Backer Room

In this restored classroom, art and writing classes for both children and adults are offered by our talented teachers. Some of our education programs include our popular summer arts program for young children as well as art classes taught by artists who have shown in our galleries.

The Academy is available for community meetings, and for rental by other arts groups and for private parties, schedule permitting.

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,  who was pastor of Saint Peter's Church across the Village Green from the Academy. Woodbridge was a grandson of Stockbridge preacher Jonathan Edwards and a cousin of Aaron Burr. Woodbridge became blind while studying at Williams College. 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 when the children were bussed into Chatham.

In 1972, seeking to save the classic building, a group of concerned citizens and artists formed the Spencertown Academy Society and established cultural center which serves the community with arts events, classes and exhibits, and has also been restoring the building which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Spencertown Academy is governed by a Board of Directors made up of concerned citizens from the surrounding communities. It is staffed by an executive director, an artistic director, an education director,  and many dedicated volunteers.

Supporting the Academy
The Academy is a not for profit organization, funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, the T. Backer Fund, the Our Town Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Foundation. It is also supported by admissions, the sale of artworks, rentals and by the generosity of its members.

The Academy invites you to consider tax-deductible gifts and bequests for an endowment to preserve the building or sustain operations. The Academy as a not-for-profit organization may be eligible for matching funds from your employer.

Make a secure on-line donation. Donate Now

MEMBERSHIP
Become a member and save! Members of Spencertown Academy Arts Center get discounts on tickets, advance notice of program, invitations to art gallery openings; invitations to benefits and more.

Membership is available a many different levels. Click here to learn more about membership levels and benefits.

JOIN TODAY!
Click here to join now on our secure payment page. 
If you prefer, you can mail checks payable to Spencertown Academy to:

Spencertown Academy Arts Center
PO Box 80
Spencertown, NY 12165

You can also call us at 518-392-3693 or e-mail us at info@spencertownacademy.org.

Spencertown Academy Staff

Mary Anne Lee , Executive Director
Maryellen Reidy, Administrator
Robin Parow, Media Relations
Bill Case, House Manager
Wanda Hughes, Gallery Manager