Mildred Elley College named as Inaugural Corporate Sponsor for new Caroga Arts Music Education Program

The String Project & Arts Collaborative Education program will create affordable arts education opportunities for students across Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie counties

CAROGA LAKE, NY (February 20, 2024) — Caroga Arts Collective announced Mildred Elley College, as the inaugural corporate sponsor for the Caroga Arts String Project & Arts Collaborative Education (SPACE) program. A $25,000 donation made by the Faith Ann Takes Family Foundation, will support the program’s efforts to provide instruments, string lessons, and essential mentorship for students grades 6-12 at Wheelerville and Johnstown Schools and beyond. Faith Takes serves as Chairwoman of the Board of Empire Education Corporation, the corporate parent of Mildred Elley Colleges.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of Faith Takes, who share Caroga Arts’ dedication to opening new avenues of opportunity for students in our region,” said Stephanie Price-Wong, Caroga Arts’ Director of Education and Community Engagement. “Their support will amplify the SPACE program as we work to foster local students’ long-lasting appreciation and engagement with the arts.”

Sponsorship significantly reduces tuition and musical instrument expenses

The sponsorship will significantly reduce the tuition and musical instrument expenses for all students enrolled in the SPACE program during Spring and Fall 2024, making arts education more accessible to families who may not have been able to afford lessons previously. The Spring 2024 program has already begun and is continuing to accept students within both districts on a rolling basis for its inaugural semester in addition to arranging performances across Fulton, Montgomery & Schoharie counties.

“It is an honor to be the first corporate sponsor of the SPACE program, helping Caroga Arts enrich the educational experience for students in our area,” said Faith Takes. “Music was a lifesaver for me as a student. I learned the importance of collaborating with others, the discipline of practicing, and learning to express myself through music. We look forward to watching the program’s growth throughout 2024 and beyond.”

In addition to providing weekly in-school lessons, Caroga Arts plans to use the SPACE program to launch more readily available mentorship workshops and outreach performances to all children of Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie counties.

To learn more about the SPACE program, please visit carogaarts.org/space.

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ABOUT CAROGA ARTS

The mission of Caroga Arts Collective is to reimagine the Adirondack experience through the power of the arts.

In 2012, Kyle Price invited friends to his grandmother’s house on Caroga Lake, where they presented a week of free concerts, ambitiously calling themselves the Caroga Lake Music Festival (CLMF). During the first five seasons, CLMF grew from one to five weeks, presenting concerts at a variety of local venues. In 2016, to accommodate the growth, the organization gained 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status as Caroga Arts Collective. Today, Caroga Arts presents over 50 performances and community events annually bringing world-class artists from various genres of music, visual art, poetry, and film to the Southern Adirondacks.