The founding of Fairmount is credited to Ron and Jan Kumin, who’s passion and drive for the arts started in their Chesterland home and later expanded to what we now know as our iconic Novelty castle.

When Jan was young, she had a hard time finding friends who also were into the arts. She and Ron started teaching in their home, but always had a vision for creating a place where students could learn the arts but also create connections - friendships - with others who shared the same interests. Jan has said in many ways, this community was even more important than anything else.

After their student base became too large to accommodate in their home, groundbreaking for the Fairmount Center began in the November of 1970, with the Center officially opening for classes the following spring, thus beginning an arts education legacy that’s 53 years and counting.