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ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) — The Community School of Music and Arts has been awarded a $50,000 Hometown Grant from T-Mobile.
Awarded to CSMA on June 24th, T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants Program is aimed at supporting community projects in small towns in the United States. The money from the grant will be used to renovate and revitalize the school’s historic building located on the corner of East State Street and Seneca Way in Ithaca.
Designed in 1928, the building was formerly home to the Fraternal Order of Eagles’ lodge, T.G. Miller’s Sons Paper Co., and a bowling alley among other businesses. Now, the building hosts a variety of activities and events such as community art classes, gallery exhibits, performances, concerts, and workshops.
Since acquiring it in the 1990s, CSMA has added expanded its artistic legacy. On the second and fourth floors, there are office spaces for Well Said Media, The Ink Shop, Bread of Life Church, as well as one 2,100 square foot office space that is vacant due to asbestos concerns and needs for renovations. With the new grant money received, CSMA will be able to renovate this space and perform asbestos abatement in order to make it ready to rent.
Executive Director Megan Omohundro outlines their big plans, saying that “renovations will begin in late summer with the goal of adding a new tenant in the fall. CSMA is a landmark for the arts and entertainment in Tompkins County. I am looking forward to revitalizing the building and growing our impact.”
There will be a reveal of the grant award as well as a celebration for their new executive director hosted on June 24th from 4:30-5:30 pm in the main gallery of the CSMA building. Community members, local partners, local news outlets, city officials, and T-Mobile employees are invited to tour the building and enjoy “Tagasode” by Kumi Korf and “Qui Sommes Nous?” by Burkeaux, both on view in its gallery spaces.
To learn more about the Community School of Music and Arts, check out their website.