Cobblestone Arts Center Receives $10,000 Vitality Grant from Rochester Area Community Foundation

Funding Expands Equitable Access to Arts Education for Regional Teens through Six-Week Summer Program

Cobblestone Arts Center is thrilled to announce it has been awarded a $10,000 Vitality Grant for Arts Education from the Rochester Area Community Foundation. This funding directly supports the 2026 Celebration of Youth (COY) Program, a unique summer initiative designed to break down geographic and access barriers by providing rich, immersive arts education to a diverse population of regional teens.

Cobblestone students and COY participants on stage following a performance.

The Arts and Culture Vitality Grants are specifically engineered to strengthen local organizations' capacity to deliver high-quality PreK-12 arts education, ensuring all regional students—regardless of location or circumstance—can experience vibrant cultural offerings.

Running for six weeks, the Celebration of Youth program serves teens ages 13 to 19, bringing together urban and rural students from multiple counties, including youth at risk, gifted teens, and individuals with disabilities. Immersed in music, dance, visual arts, and creative writing, participants collaborate alongside professional teaching artists, college interns, and Cobblestone's own student population of adults with disabilities. The program acts as a paid summer work experience that not only provides rigorous artistic training but also fosters workplace skill development, critical thinking, and social-emotional growth.

COY summer program participants on stage during rehearsals.

"Since 1999, the Celebration of Youth program has been a vehicle for our mission to use art as a universal language that unites our community," said Lorene Benson, Founder and Executive Director of Cobblestone Arts Center. "We are incredibly grateful to the Rochester Area Community Foundation for their generous investment. This grant allows us to expand equitable access, mitigate geographic barriers, and give these students a platform to discover their creative passions and build lasting confidence."

The six-week program culminates in a spectacular final community showcase performance, built entirely on the collaborative efforts of the local teens and Cobblestone's adult students. Together, they will present original pieces to their families and the public, celebrating a joint summer endeavor rooted in mentorship, inclusion, and the arts.

Cobblestone students collaborating with COY teens on an art project.

About Rochester Area Community Foundation:

In partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, Rochester Area Community Foundation works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region (Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates). The Foundation manages more than 1,400 funds, distributing grants and scholarships to address the region’s most pressing needs. Learn more at www.racf.org.

About Cobblestone Arts Center:

Founded in 1983, Cobblestone Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to making the arts accessible to all, regardless of age, ability, or background. Located at 1622 Route 332 in Farmington, NY, Cobblestone’s signature "Celebrating the Arts" year-round day program provides over 165 adults with developmental disabilities across six counties with daily immersion in music, dance, visual art, and theater. The center actively welcomes local artists and professional touring performances to utilize its vibrant classroom spaces and theater facilities, fostering a collaborative hub alongside robust community arts enrichment and youth theater initiatives. Learn more at www.cobblestoneartscenter.com.