FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2023
Media Contact: Gina Hyams, PR Consultant, 713-930-7554, ginahyams@gmail.com
Spencertown Academy Awarded $25,000 by New York State Council on the Arts
Spencertown, New York–Spencertown Academy Arts Center announced today a grant award totaling $25,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the nonprofit arts and culture sector. Through New York State’s continued investment in arts and culture, NYSCA has awarded over $80 million since Spring 2023 to over 1,500 artists and organizations across the state.
Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Research confirms what we’ve always known here in New York: arts and culture are a powerhouse, with a staggering return on investment for our economy and our communities. Nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generated $151.7 billion in economic activity nationwide in 2022 and New York’s unparalleled arts and culture sector is leading the way to benefit our residents, our students and our visitors every day. I commend these grantees on their achievements and look forward to their contributions in the coming year.”
“Support from NYSCA is so important to the Academy. It makes a big difference to what we can provide in the way of remuneration to the artists of all types that we present and to the overall quality of the programming we can offer to our community,” said Nick Van Alstine, president of Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s Board of Directors. “We are grateful to NYSCA and Governor Kathy Hochul for this award, and look forward to 2024, offering the quality events and exhibitions that keep the Spencertown Academy Arts Center thriving.”
NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls added, “Thanks to the unwavering support of Governor Hochul and our Legislature, NYSCA is so proud to support the work of organizations and artists from all across New York. Spanning the entire breadth of the arts and culture sector – from world-renowned performers to after-school programs, from long established museums to community arts collectives—these organizations and artists together are a powerful driver of health, tourism, economy and education for our residents and visitors. On behalf of Council and staff, congratulations to Spencertown Academy and thank you for your perseverance, your creativity and your tireless service to New York State.”
About the New York State Council on the Arts
The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award $127 million in FY 2024. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.
About Spencertown Academy
The Spencertown Academy Arts Center (originally Spencertown Academy Society) was established in 1972, saving the historic Greek Revival building and turning it into a community arts center. Now an all-volunteer organization, it offers a varied schedule of concerts, lectures, classes, and gallery shows. Its signature events—Hidden Gardens, Revels, and the Festival of Books—are yearly highlights. The Academy is located at 790 State Route 203 in Spencertown, New York. For more information, please www.spencertownacademy.org.