Our Beginnings
Ten years after Mary Hardy arrived in Scottsville in 1994 toting over 100 stringed instruments--violins, cellos, violas, a bass, a variety of percussive instruments and her magical self, a group of communtiy leaders sat in her studio to discuss how to preserve her work. The teachings of Mary Hardy has always been about more than music--it is a transforming creative experience that she has personally opened up to tens of thousands of individuals of all ages from Harlem to Scottsville.
It is the philosophy that everyone has the right to explore their creative and artistic potential that is the cornerstone of the Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature. Opportunities are here for the student and the teacher to become as good as they desire to be.
As she became known in Scottsville, Mary crossed paths with Robert "Bobby" Spencer. Bobby, a life long resident of Scottsville and fellow creative soul, had inherited a piece of property from his parents that he dreamed would become a haven for creative souls. He donated 13 acres of open and wooded property to the cause. His only request is that it be kept as open and indigenous as possible.
The gift that Mary and Bobby have bestowed upon Scottsville is tremendous. It is a combination of two individuals who fought for the creative arts throughout their lives. It is two legacies that the Directors of the Scottville Center for Arts and Nature have worked diligently to preserve for the future of their organization and the Greater Scottsville area.