History

Lorene Benson founded the non-profit organization Cobblestone Arts Center in 1983 to bring visual and performing arts to the rural community. The Arts Center acquired the cobblestone building (now a Starbucks) across from Eastview Mall in Victor NY and renovated it into a ballroom and several smaller studios. Classes were for the general population ages pre-school through adult and included ballet, breakdancing, preschool foreign language classes, private lessons in violin, cello, piano, visual arts, and sculpture classes as well. In 1986 Lorene started a wheelchair dance company called “Wheels In Motion” that would later shape the future of the centers offerings of programs for persons with disabilities. After seeing the great successes of her wheelchair dancers the center stated offering evening visual arts, music, and dance classes for persons with disabilities. Classes continued in that facility until 1995 when the Arts Center purchased 15 acres of land and an 1814 brick farmhouse at 1622 Route 332 in Farmington NY. The farmhouse was renovated into offices and classroom space where classes continued for the general population as well as persons with disabilities. In 1999, the organization became certified by New York State Department of Developmental Disabilities as a Medicaid waivered program. It began offering full day classes for persons with disabilities ages 21 and older 5 days a week. With the rapid growth of the program from 10 students to 70 students and the strict regulations set forth by New York State the Arts Center split all of its non-related Medicaid offerings in music, dance, and theater to Eastview Mall under the name Best Foot Forward. After building two separate additions to the existing farm house the Arts Center currently has 8,000 sq. ft. of office and classroom space for its “Celebrating the Arts” program for persons with disabilities. Standing by its original mission to bring performing arts to the rural community the Arts Center is currently working on building a new multi-use 400 seat theatre on its 15 acres in Farmington. The new facility will be bringing music, dance, and theater acts both from the local area as well as nationally.