PKX Festival
The annual PKX festival is a symbol of community, unity, and a celebration of the creativity and talent residing in Poughkeepsie, NY.
The PKX Festival is truly created by youth, FOR EVERYONE.
Friends of the Festival
This year’s community partners who worked with The Art Effect to make this festival happen as tabling partners, in-kind and monetary donors, and more.
Boys and Girls Club of Poughkeepsie • Brain & Body Coalition • Casa & Compeer • Celebrating the African Spirit • Charlia Frank • Community Matters 2 • Country Kids Popcorn • Crazy Over ART on tour • Dutchess County Pride Center • Crazy Over ART on tour • Dutchess County Pride Center • Empire Arts Training Center • Esperanza Dutchess County Hispanic Organization • Fall Kill Creative Works • Family Services • Financial Development Center • The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center • Hudson Valley Justice Center • Nubian Directions II • Pershing King Organics • Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet • Poughkeepsie City School District • Poughkeepsie High School Art Club • Spettro • Walkway Over The Hudson • Mama La’s Food for the Soul • Mr. Cool Ice Cream
Festival Highlights Photo Gallery
ALL EVENTS took place indoors at the Family Partnership Center
29 N Hamilton St.
Poughkeepsie, NY
Festival Kickoff @ 1pm
Saturday, May 3
1-5pm
In the Gymnasium (Clinton St. Entrance)
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
Enjoy activities, music, games, and live performances.
In the Duffy Community Room (Hamilton St. Entrance)
PKX ART EXHIBITION
See the jury selected artwork by local youth artists.
5pm-6pm
In the Duffy Community Room
PKX FESTIVAL RECEPTION
Take festival photos, enjoy snacks, and mingle with artists.
6pm-8pm
In the Auditorium
FILM FESTIVAL & PKX AWARDS CEREMONY*
Watch short films from around the globe and recognize the talented young artists shaping our tomorrow.
*with special debut screening of a new Spark Studios film
“The PKX Festival has introduced me to corners of the art world I didn’t know existed and opened my mind to new perspectives.“ – Kaleceia Douglas, PKX Festival Attendee
2025’s PKX Festival is produced by the Poughkeepsie Board of Artistic Youth (PK B.A.Y.), bringing together students from six organizations: Boys & Girls Club of Poughkeepsie, Community Matters 2, Esperanza Dutchess County Hispanic, Nubian Directions II, and The Art Effect with support from the Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet.
PKX 2025 will be the debut of a new public art installation, created by youth from the Poughkeepsie Board of Artistic Youth and the Media, Art, & Design Lab program in collaboration with Fall Kill Creative Works. The installation features a mosaic tree centerpiece symbolizing resilience and growth—an icon the students felt reflected Poughkeepsie. Designed as an immersive, photo-friendly experience, the piece surrounds visitors with the beauty and spirit of collaboration that defines our city.
After the festival the spirit of the installation will live on. The mosaic portion of the structure is being donated by the youth of the PK B.A.Y. to the Family Partnership Center.
This year’s PKX 2025 Film Festival is presented by Vassar Brothers Institute. The film festival is juried by a group of peers, comprised of young film producers working at Forge Media‘s apprenticeship production house, and contains work from talented filmmakers from across the globe.
Schedule of Events
May 3, 2025
In the Gymnasium
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
1 PM Festival Kick-Off
2 PM Opening Remarks & Public Art Unveiling
2:30–3:15 PM Live Stage Performances from: Jaydee Great, L51Swazzy, & Rosmerayah
4:45 PM Parade to PKX reception in Duffy Community Room
In the Duffy Community Room
ART EXHIBITION – FILM FESTIVAL – AWARDS
1-5 PM PKX Art Exhibition on Display
5 PM PKX Art Exhibition Reception
6-8 PM Film Festival & Awards Ceremony*
*with special debut screening of a new Spark Studios film
Festival Stage Schedule
In the Gymnasium
1 PM Festival Kick-Off with DJ BLVD
2 PM Opening Remarks & Public Art Unveiling
2:30 PM Live Performances
– 2:30 PM Jaydee Great
– 2:50 PM L51Swazzy
– 3:10 PM Rosmerayah
3:30 PM DJ BLVD
4:45 PM Gather together for the Parade through the Partnership
Central Hudson • Chronogram • La Voz • Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP • Poughkeepsie Galleria • Prime Print Shop • Vassar College • Visit Vortex
PKX YOUTH PLANNERS
Adel R, (Film Jurying)
Ashley L, (Film Jurying)
Christopher W, (PK B.A.Y)
Dasanni V, (YAEZ, Art Jurying)
Davon S, (PK B.A.Y)
Heavenly P (PK B.A.Y)
Mauricia R, (YAEZ, Art Jurying, PK B.A.Y)
Naiyassa H, (YAEZ, Art Jurying, PK B.A.Y)
Johan HA, (Film Jurying)
Julissa EC, (PK B.A.Y)
Keima W, (YAEZ, Art Jurying, PK B.A.Y)
Kelly J, (YAEZ, Art Jurying)
Mckenzie S, (Film Jurying)
Raina S, (PK B.A.Y)
Savannah C, (Film Jurying)
Tracy D, (PK B.A.Y)
Tray-Zar Q, (PK B.A.Y)
Tristin Q, (PK B.A.Y)
Valerie V, (YAEZ, Art Jurying)
Zhariah A, (PK B.A.Y)
THE ART EFFECT STAFF
Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt, Executive Director
Velianna Catalano, Communications Assistant
Hanna Rose DeMarco, Director of Artistic Advancement
Ioannis Dunn-Srimuangboon, Director of Development
Ana Fiore, Programs Director
Cy Hinojosa, Workforce Programs Coordinator
Mary Ellen Iatropoulos, Director of Special Projects
Melanie Gonzalez, PK B.A.Y. Manager
Abby Lessick, Art Institute Coordinator/ Studio Manager
Pamela Perry, Managing Director
Adam Reid, Media Program Manager
Molly Scott, Grants Manager
Cory Spraker, Operations Manager
Elle Stas, Marketing & Communications Manager
Sarah Timberlake Taylor, Systems Administrator
Paul Thompson, Director of Forge Media & Associate Director of Media Programs
Mirabai Trent, Marketing Design Assistant
David Wong, Community Art & Design Program Manager
THE ART EFFECT BOARD
Shailee Johnson, Board Chair
Richard DuVall, Treasurer
Lorenzo Angelino, Esq., Secretary
David Bloom
Diane Cicatello, MD
Sybil DelGaudio
Dwayne Douglas
Michael DeCiutiis
Judy Elkin, LMSW
Tessa Friedman
Aleria Gonzalez
William Hoynes
Christopher Kroner
Sharley McIver
Karen Michel
Teresa Quinn
Tahleeyah Raphael
Loretta Spence
Dean Temple
Robert C. Watson Jr.
This program is partially funded by monies received from the New York State Council on the Arts. The Art Effect empowers youth to develop their artistic voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change.
