Compass Arts Creativity Project
First Presbyterian Church of Beacon, 50 Liberty Street, Beacon, NY 12508
About
Compass Arts Creativity Project offers classes, ensembles, workshops, events, camps, and other creative experiences. The program includes music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and gaming classes. Compass Arts focuses on process-based arts and highlights creativity, play, arts making, and community.
Compass Arts Creativity Project classes, ensembles, workshops, events, camps, and experiences are created for the Beacon and surrounding communities for the purpose of building those communities. As a creativity project, it states that communities are stronger when problem solving skills are encouraged at every age level and that the best way to build problem solving skills is through creativity. Its work is focused on building community, encouraging creativity, and giving kids the tools they need to express themselves. Compass Arts Creativity Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and holds a Platinum Seal profile on Candid. The children’s musical Space Pirates!, for which teaching artist Gwynne Watkins is bookwriter and co-lyricist, is a winner of the 2015 Children’s Musical Theater Festival.
Founder, director, and teaching artist Gina Samardge is a certified Orff-Schulwerk Educator. Andy Reinhardt, who leads financial operations, tech and media, serves as band leader and chief operating officer, is a graduate of the music conservatory at SUNY Purchase with a focus on composition. Teaching artist Juliet Strong has a degree in vocal performance from the University of Oregon, received actor training from California Shakespeare Theater and Berkeley Repertory Theater, and holds a certificate of distinction in vocal pedagogy from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee College. The leadership team also includes general manager and teacher Lisa Andretta, and Gwynne Watkins, who leads theater and writing classes and supports administrative and marketing work.
Last updated May 28, 2026.
Compass Arts Creativity Project classes, ensembles, workshops, events, camps, and experiences are created for the Beacon and surrounding communities for the purpose of building those communities. As a creativity project, it states that communities are stronger when problem solving skills are encouraged at every age level and that the best way to build problem solving skills is through creativity. Its work is focused on building community, encouraging creativity, and giving kids the tools they need to express themselves. Compass Arts Creativity Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and holds a Platinum Seal profile on Candid. The children’s musical Space Pirates!, for which teaching artist Gwynne Watkins is bookwriter and co-lyricist, is a winner of the 2015 Children’s Musical Theater Festival.
Founder, director, and teaching artist Gina Samardge is a certified Orff-Schulwerk Educator. Andy Reinhardt, who leads financial operations, tech and media, serves as band leader and chief operating officer, is a graduate of the music conservatory at SUNY Purchase with a focus on composition. Teaching artist Juliet Strong has a degree in vocal performance from the University of Oregon, received actor training from California Shakespeare Theater and Berkeley Repertory Theater, and holds a certificate of distinction in vocal pedagogy from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee College. The leadership team also includes general manager and teacher Lisa Andretta, and Gwynne Watkins, who leads theater and writing classes and supports administrative and marketing work.
Last updated May 28, 2026.
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