GENEVA – The Feinbloom Supporting Foundation at the Rochester Area Community Foundation has announced a grant of $15,000 to the St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy.

The grant request to fund professional services was for the Academy budget for 2019-2020. The Feinbloom Supporting Foundation strives to support arts and culture programs for children that contribute to their ability to learn.The Rev. James Adams,
Head of School, 

praised the Feinbloom Supporting Foundation for supporting the arts academy’s mission, which is not only to provide quality instruction in music and dance, but also to strengthen the community. “As an organization dedicated to creating a rich cultural environment accessible to all through lessons, classes, workshops and performances, the Arts Academy is an integral part of the Geneva community,” Father Adams said.

The Arts Academy continues to grow and its success has created the need for more space for instruction. A $4-million capital campaign is under way to raise money to convert the two-story former Rectory on the south side of the church grounds into the main space for the Arts Academy. The Community Spirit & Arts campaign already has $1.9 million received or pledged in the quiet phase of the campaign.

Normally, the group classes and private lessons take place at the Arts Academy on 149 Genesee S

t. in Geneva, but this year learning has been online because of the COVID-19 virus.

The academic year starts in September and continues through the middle of June for a total of 36 weeks. Performances at several times throughout the year also are an integral part of the program. Performances help students build confidence in their ability to practice, rehearse and perform in ways that recognize their potential as individuals. The Academy stresses that performances also help in the ongoing development of Geneva as a vibrant community that values the arts and education.

The Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region

through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

The Feinbloom Foundation supports arts and culture programs for children that contribute to their ability to learn, programs that prevent or reduce youth violence and juvenile crime and programs for school-age children that strengthen connections with their families and communities and increase the likelihood of their success in school and beyond.

More than 300 students from 16 area schools in a five-county area are taking lessons and performing at the Arts Academy in choirs, piano, violin, cello, viola, organ, voice, dance and guitar for all ages with the dedicated core of instructors and staff, all of whom are professionals in their field. Embracing its theme of “Arts for All,” the Academy is open to everyone from infants to adults and is not affiliated religiously although St. Peter’s Church sponsors and supports the Academy. More information on classes and supporting the Arts Academy is available at www.stpetersarts.org.

Photo caption: A piano student from the St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy practices the piano with his instructor on the phone. On-line learning took place this year because of the COVID-19 virus.