Home - Spencertown Academy

Upcoming Events And Activities

Revels 2026
Valentine's Day Edition
February 14

Thanks to all who joined in the festivities for our 37th Annual Revels celebration, the Academy's oldest signature fundraiser. Delicious and convivial dinners at members’ homes, decadent and abundant desserts, music from the Lisha Delfino Jazz Trio, festive decor, photo booth (even Revels "tattoos"), but most of all your generous, spirited participation made for a memorable evening. A special thank you to our dinner hosts and bakers who went above and beyond!

More photos coming soon

call to artists 11th annual members show

CALLING ALL ACADEMY ARTISTS for our 11th Annual Members' Show

Submissions open from February 11- April 20

We are happy to invite our talented community to show their work at this popular annual show. This is not a juried show ALL current Academy members are encouraged to submit. All media are accepted.
Learn more

Heavenly Echoes Gospel Band

Saturday, February 28: 7:30 pm
We are pleased to present Heavenly Echoes Gospel Band, in collaboration with the Capital Region Blues Network. Founded by the late Deacon James Edmonds in 1965 in Albany, NY, wiith roots in the Stax/Volt style of Southern Soul, they perform both classic and contemporary gospel music—a mix of originals, well-known traditional spirituals and hymns, covers of songs that crossed over into pop music.
Learn more

Friendly Banjos With Zack

Saturday March 7th: 10:00-11:00am
Using the banjo as the main tool, Zack teaches basic skills that apply to any string instrument—ukulele, guitar, Loog guitar, violin, you name it. By the end of the workshop, your child will be strumming their first song on the banjo,feeling confident and excited for more music-making at home. FREE! AGES 4-7 with an adult companion.
Learn mor

Amber Chand: Tales of the Boatwoman

Sunday March 8: 2:00pm
This storytelling performance offers an evocative journey into the world of Chand’s ancestors in India and Africa. Audience members will discover why a passionate elopement turned into an unhappy betrayal; why a black-and-white photograph would change the destiny of a family; and how an ancient Vedic mantra accompanied a young woman on her voyage across the seas.
Learn more

The Gift to be Simple: Our Local Shaker Heritage and Its Future

Sunday, March 22: 2:00pm
This panel discussion will feature Shaker Museum’s newly appointed Executive Director Claudia Gould, Director of Library & Collections Jerry Grant, and Collections Manager Sharon Duane Koomler. Topics will include the museum’s now 18,000 object-strong collection, history of the Shakers at Mount Lebanon’s thriving garden seed industry, and plans on the horizon for the museum set to open in Chatham in 2028.
Learn more

Wooden human figure moving - Tai Chi Workshop

Cultivating Balance - A Workshop on Stability & Mobility

Wednesday, March 25: 10:00 - Noon
Tai Chi movements & postures teach us to listen to our feet, to be secured to the ground and simultaneously aligned upwards to the crown of the head. Being upright in gravity is a necessary condition of balance. In this workshop, we’ll practice being balanced, when we lose it and how we regain it.
Learn more

Variations on a Theme

March 28-April 26
This invitational, the first show of our 2026 gallery season, features artwork by Betsy Jacks, Jim Krewson, John Morra, Marilyn Orner, Alan Papscun, and Robert Watkins. It focuses on the concept that artists frequently return over time to a subject that holds enduring interest for them.
Learn more

Spottiswoode and kenny white promotional graphic

Spottiswoode & Kenny White

Saturday, April 25: 8:00pm
Good friends Spottiswoode and Kenny White share the stage and trade songs for two sets. A virtuoso pianist, Kenny draws from a deep lyrical well—tender, hilarious, explosive. Award-winning bandleader, singer-songwriter, and scriptwriter, Spottiswoode will play tunes from his brand new album, “It Wasn’t In The Script,” which is a meditation on the joys and humiliations of fatherhood and getting older.
Learn more

Announcing our 2026 Young Writers' Contest!

Spencertown Academy is excited to once again open its annual Young Writers' Contest to high school students (including homeschoolers) in Columbia County, NY and Berkshire County, MA, grades 9-12.
Learn more

Seedling Swap & Sale

Saturday, June 6: 10am - 2pm
Join us for Spencertown Academy’s first Seedling Swap & Sale a welcoming celebration of gardening, generosity, and growing together. Local gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all experience levels are invited to share seedlings, swap favorites, or purchase plants to take home for the season ahead — vegetables, herbs, flowers, and more… all plants are welcome!
Learn more.

Annual Appeal

Help to support our mission of Building Community Through the Arts, 50 years and going strong. Make your tax deductible gift today.

Winter 2025/2026 Newsletter Now Available

See what's coming up and read the interesting backstory to some of our programming and events. See the latest as well as past newsletters.

Festival of Books - 20 Years Strong!

The 20th Annual Festival of Books was a magnificent community event, graced with beautiful weather and crowds of enthusiastic readers of all ages. We tallied record sales for this cornerstone fundraiser and are so grateful for your enthusiastic support and participation. A very special thank you to our generous sponsors who helped to “Get the Festival off the Ground”! Learn more.

From left to right: Loretta Pettway Bennett, Stella Mae Pettway, Sharon Williams, Emma Mooney Pettway, Polly Middleton, Andrea Williams.

Gee's Bend Quilt Show

July 12- August 3

Over 4 weeks we welcomed close to 3,000 visitors who came from far and wide, to view this exhibition representing joy, hard work, history and artistry. We thank everyone who passed through our doors, purchased the Quilters' wares, sponsors and donors and our scores of volunteers. Learn more.

The Twilight BBQ Dance Party Saturday, July 12, 2025

It Was A Great Party!

Thanks to all who danced, dined, shopped and celebrated with us on a beautiful summer evening. Kudos to Larry Walker "What's Really Good" for the fantastic BBQ and to Silver Arrow Band for the dance tunes! Event photos.