2023 Winter Intensives

Apply for a winter workforce intensive in entrepreneurship or public arts where you earn a stipend to learn and work! Open to students ages 14-19 who live in Dutchess County.

Arts & Entrepreneurship Intensive
December 4 – 15, 2023 
Monday – Friday | 3:00 – 5:30 PM
PUF Studios: 8 N. Cherry St, Poughkeepsie 

In this business start-up workshop, young entrepreneurs will receive support in generating their business ideas and clientele. 

Students will get the resources they need to establish: 
• Business branding (names/logos/mission statements)
• What services they can & will provide
• Generating Price Points for those services
• Generating leads for target customer for their business 
• How to draft and pitch client proposals and general agreements

Students ages 14-19 who participate and successfully complete all 25 hours of the workforce intensive will earn a $125 stipend and a chance to make a business ‘elevator’ pitch to a panel of business professionals.


Street Art Intensive
December 4 – 14, 2023 
Monday – Thursday | 3:00 – 5:30 PM
Pershing Studios: 45 Pershing Ave, Poughkeepsie

Bring art to the world by taking it to the streets! In this intensive, you’ll explore the world of street art from Graffiti and stenciling to sculpture, public painting, and more! Receive $100 stipend upon completion of the program!

Students ages 14-19 who participate and successfully complete all 20 hours of the workforce intensive will earn a $100 stipend!


PKX Festival Intensive
December 4 – 14
Monday – Thursday | 3:00 – 5:30 PM
Trolley Barn Gallery: 489 Main St, Poughkeepsie

Join us in crafting an unforgettable festival experience!

This Winter Intensive is for young creatives who want to shape the identity of the 3rd annual PKX Festival under the theme “Droppin’ Jewels.” Teens will immerse themselves in a dynamic and collaborative environment, honing design and marketing skills while contributing to the festival’s vibrant branding.

Program Highlights:

  • Establish Festival Branding
    • Unleash your creativity to craft a captivating color palette that embodies the spirit 
    • Develop a visual identity that resonates with the festival’s theme
  • Design Festival Poster
    • Dive into the world of graphic design as you collaboratively create the festival’s poster.
  • Generate Community Engagement
    • design and distribute eye-catching flyers relating to the festival
  • Cultivate Design and Marketing Skills
    • Gain hands-on experience in graphic design, applying principles to real-world projects.
    • Sharpen marketing skills by crafting content that effectively communicates the festival’s theme and encourages community involvement.

Spring 2024 Art Classes: Coming Soon!

The Art Effect’s Art Institute inspires and motivates students ages 5-19, allowing young artists to explore materials, and their imaginations while preparing more advanced students for successful careers and acquiring merit-based scholarships to the nation’s best art schools in the visual and media arts. Graduates who complete the tracks of the Art Institute generate an impressive portfolio of original work and even meet with college representatives.

Spring 2024 classes offer youth a variety of programming that allows them to hone their skills in their preferred mediums or explore exciting new materials.

Classes will include:

(Ages 5-8)
Adventures in Craft
Adventures in Song and Music
Adventures in Painting
Exploring Painting

(Ages 8-11)
Exploring Materials
Exploring Stop Motion Animation

(Ages 11-14)
Realistic Drawing
Diving into Short Films
Experimental Sculpture
Thinking in Color
Digital Illustration and Animation

(Ages 14-19)
Portfolio Development
Plein Air
Contemporary Human Figure
Digital Character and World Building
Narrative Illustration

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

PK B.A.Y (Poughkeepsie Board of Artistic Youth) & YAEZ (Youth Arts Empowerment Zone)
Submission Due: January 7, 2024

Email micah@thearteffect.org for submission and/or questions (detailed submission information below)

  1. Background / Vision

The Art Effect empowers young people to develop their creative voices to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. The Art Effect helps youth explore, experience, and excel in the arts, introducing them to visual arts and media, giving them the opportunity to develop real skills in these fields, and guiding them toward achieving their academic and career goals. 

Currently, The Art Effect is partnering with the Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet to expand the YAEZ (Youth Arts Empowerment Zone) as a model for youth civic engagement in the City of Poughkeepsie. With funding support from The Wallace Foundation, The Art Effect and the Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet are collaborating with four of Poughkeepsie’s out-of-school-time providers to convene adolescent leaders, The PK B.A.Y. (Poughkeepsie Board of Artistic Youth), from The Art Effect, Family Services, Community Matters 2, and The Boys and Girls Club to form a first-of-its-kind citywide youth initiative.

The PK B.A.Y. is a group of approximately 12 Poughkeepsie-based students ranging from ages 14 to 18 who work within the YAEZ to advocate for art, entrepreneurship, and youth voice to be valued in community leadership. The PK B.A.Y. believes that public art means bringing people together but public art can also mean bringing awareness to the community. The PK B.A.Y. believes that making a difference is hard but it is possible.

The YAEZ is a 10-year plan to establish a youth arts district along Main Street in Poughkeepsie, with The Art Effect at the Trolley Barn as the anchor arts institution. It will focus on youth-driven placemaking in and around the Trolley Barn. In its early stages, there will be annual arts festivals around community-inspired artworks, created by local youth and professional artists, all of which will empower the local community.

As part of their work, the PK B.A.Y. seeks proposals for public art installation work within the YAEZ that enacts their mission.

  1.  Overview and Project Description 

We are interested in working with an artist to create a public art installation that allows for youth and community participation in the process of its creation. Youth in our programs have worked on several projects ranging from murals, to sculptures, and media-based projects. For the PK B.A.Y. project, preference will be given to sculptural work, and our ideal featured artist will prioritize incorporating Poughkeepsie-related imagery, such as bridge imagery. While the desired location for this installation would be within the blocks of the YAEZ (one block north and south of Main st. stretching from N. Cherry to N. Clinton), we welcome proposals for art installations elsewhere in the city limits. Preference will be given to works in higher-visibility areas, and proposals are requested to incorporate at least one of the following themes without openly blaming or shaming anyone: unity, connection, and peace; Poughkeepsie and its indigenous history; anti-violence; drug abuse prevention; the negative effects of drugs.

The PK B.A.Y envisions this project will promote positivity, provide inspiration & give the people of Poughkeepsie a little push in the direction of stopping violence & drug use going forward. We have high hopes for this project, and we will be interested in taking measures to protect the art piece from vandalism. We are looking forward to seeing how the project will make an impact in our community, hopefully in a positive way. The PK B.A.Y hopes that this project will reach both the hearts & minds of everyone who sees it in our city. 

  1.  Project Parameters: 
    1. In the cases of a sculptural or mural pieces: minimum dimensions are 10 feet tall, five feet wide (preference of large scale),
    2. Preference given to works in high-visibility areas,
    3. Must be weatherproof,
    4. Must aim to foster positivity,
    5. Must incorporate at least one of the following themes:
      1. Unity: connection, and peace;
      2. Anti-violence: 
      3. Poughkeepsie and its indigenous history,
      4. Drug abuse prevention and the negative effects of drugs.
    6. Must draw attention to themes without openly blaming or shaming anyone,
    7. Preference given to artist who enjoy working with youth,
    8. Preference given to works that involve a community interactivity component,
    9. Though preference is given to sculptural work, we invite proposals covering a wide variety of arts.

The artist would work alongside PK B.A.Y. to plan the work in early 2024, with the goal of actual production taking place during spring 2024.  

Timeline of 2024 PK B.A.Y. Public Art Project

  • Submissions due 1/7/24
  • Notification of acceptance 1/19/24
  • Collaborative planning/pre-production work with artist(s) and youth starts earliest 2/6/24 
  • Execution/production of work with artist(s) and youth takes place between March-June 2024 (timeline depends on scope of project, etc.)
  • Final project must be completed by 06/28/24
  1. Proposal Submission Guidelines
    1. Artist Bio
    2. Resume and/or CV 
    3. Sample of Work Portfolio (Website or google drive links welcome) 
    4. Project Description (1 page)
      1. Description of your project concept 
      2. How do you imagine your work of art activating the public?
      3. What role do the youth play in the creation and execution of the proposal?
      4. Proposed project budget (See #6 for Budget details)
      5. Proposed project timeline (Students meet Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-5:30pm, You can begin working with students on 2/06/24, but the Project must be completed by 06/28/24)

File types accepted: .doc, .pdf, .png, .jpeg, .mov, .mp4) Submissions must be emailed to micah@thearteffect.org by 01/07/24 by 11:59 pm.

  1. Artist(s) Selection Process

Artist(s) applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Artistic merit as evidenced by the submitted representation of past work.

• Appropriateness of the artist’s medium, style, and previous professional experience as they relate to the art goals and opportunities in this project.

• Experience with projects of similar scale and scope 

• Experience working with community groups and/or youth 

• The ability of the artist(s) to successfully pitch a work of art/ project that youth believe fits the mission of PK B.A.Y. and Youth Arts Empowerment Zone.

The selected artist(s) will be notified in January 19, 2024

  1. Range of Project Cost

The Art Effect will provide the guest artist a fee of $5,000, and can provide reimbursable support for supplies of up to $2,000. Cost proposals should include a breakdown of costs for materials, site visits, collaborative brainstorming sessions with youth, and drawing or maquette creation.

  1. Location Information

The Trolley Barn is located at 489 Main St, Poughkeepsie NY 12601. The Youth Arts Empowerment Zone encompasses the block of Main Street running from N. Cherry to N. Clinton, extending one block north and one block south of Main Street. A map indicating the YAEZ boundaries is on the following page. If you have any questions about the project, please feel free to reach out to micah@thearteffect.org

Homeschool Portfolio Development Course (Virtual)

November 7 – December 12, 2023
Tuesdays, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Class via Zoom, link will be provided at signup

Cost $234

In this art portfolio development course, homeschool students ages 14-19 will develop a unique, dynamic portfolio while expanding on fundamental drawing and painting skills. Primarily working from observation, you will learn to balance life drawing with imaginative and photo based references. This class is virtual on Tuesdays from 1-3 PM with instruction via Zoom. Recommended for ages 14-19.

The Art Effect’s Art Institute provides artistic youth ages 14-24 with experiential learning opportunities in essential portfolio development and college preparatory skills through high-level art training, mentoring, and advanced educational experiences. The Art Institute inspires and motivates students, preparing them for successful careers and acquiring merit-based scholarships to the nation’s best art schools in the visual and media arts. Art Institute is a year-round, intensive, pre-college portfolio development program for motivated teens ages 14-19. Graduates generate an impressive portfolio of original work that demonstrates their pre-professional skills in the visual and media arts. See current and upcoming courses HERE.

To register: Please fill out the registration form here, and mail to: The Art Effect at 45 Pershing Ave, Poughkeepsie or email cy@thearteffect.org

Sign Up for 2023-2024 National Art Honor Society

Apply to be a member in The Art Effect’s National Art Honor Society, Chapter #2242.

NAHS members are seen as leaders in their field and often receive priority treatment when applying to college. Membership in the NAHS gives you access to college scholarships from the NAEA (National Art Education Association) that are not available to other students.

To be considered to be a member, you must fill out the application as well as submit a WEIGHTED high school transcript to The Art Effect, both by September 30, 2023. Your weighted transcript must demonstrate a cumulative average of 87 or higher to be considered. Transcripts can be submitted as attachments and emailed to hannarose@thearteffect.org

This year, NAHS will be holding meetings on the first Thursday of every month, starting October 5 and ending June 6. If you are chosen as an officer, you will also attend an additional meeting a month on the second Thursday of each month. Our first officers meeting will take place on October 12.

NAHS students will organize, plan, and host various art projects to benefit the surrounding communities, including public art murals and events like Hudson Valley Portfolio Day. These activities promote art to the community, and look great on an individual’s college application resume!

If selected, you will be expected to be actively involved in The Art Effect’s programming, pay the one time annual dues of $25, and to maintain a GPA of 87 or higher in your enrolled school.

We look forward to receiving your submitted transcript and virtual application form by September 30, 2023.

We will reach out with acceptance decisions by October 2, 2023.


 If you have any questions, please email The Art Effect’s Director of Artistic Advancement, Hanna Rose, at hannarose@thearteffect.org.

Sign Up for Art100 (ArtsBridge) Fall 2023

The Art Effect Launches New Initiative for Hudson Valley Youth to Earn Visual And Media Art College Credits While in High School! Learn more here.

Hudson Valley youth will earn college credit for participating in The Art Effect’s visual arts and media programming. In partnership with Dutchess Community College, students enrolled in the ArtsBridge, fall 2023 program will earn college credit, free of cost to students. Click here to apply.

ART 100/ Introductory Visual Art Seminar is an introduction to the visual art programs to academic and career opportunities in the visual arts. Learn all about how to begin creating, preserving and documenting an art portfolio; career opportunities and internships; transfer opportunities; career options; student services; study skills including time management, research, writing, note and test taking, and presentation skills.

Thursdays, 3:30 – 5:00 pm
September through December 7, 2023 (1-credit class)

Room 129 Poughkeepsie High School, 70 Forbus Street, Poughkeepsie NY 12601.

ArtsBridge, The Art Effect’s college preparatory program for first-generation youth, addresses how to begin creating, preserving, and documenting an art portfolio; career opportunities and internships in the arts; and study skills including time management, research, writing, note and test taking, and presentation skills. With an equity focus, the course also provides SAT prep, one-on-one mentorship, assistance applying for financial and merit-based scholarships, and support applying to colleges and negotiating financial offers. The Art Effect’s partnership with Dutchess Community College allows those youth enrolled in ArtsBridge to earn an introductory visual art seminar college credit focused on academic and career opportunities in the visual arts. Across all of its programs, high school seniors at The Art Effect were offered nearly $1.4 million in scholarships in 2022 to attend colleges or universities.

Sign up for MADLab, Fall 2023

MADLab youth public art sculpture

Fall 2023 MADlab (Media, Arts, and Design Lab) Applications are Now Open!

SEPTEMBER 25 – NOVEMBER 15
Monday – Wednesday, 3:00 – 5:30 PM
Pershing Studios: 45 Pershing Ave, Poughkeepsie

The Art Effect is now accepting applications for the Fall 2023 session of  MADLab (Media, Arts, Design Lab). This workforce program is an intermediate-level visual arts and design program that hires youth artists ages 14-19 looking to take their talents to the next level. MADLab is an “earn while you learn” arts-based career and skills training program that trains youth in:

  • Design, sculpture, painting, and drawing
  • Managing public art and social media marketing projects

Each MADLab session exposes students interested in visual art, creative placemaking, public art, media and design, and more to the creative workforce process by producing collaborative visual arts projects, and learning workplace skills such as time management, team work, leadership, and communication. The fall 2023 session of MADLab runs Monday through Wednesday 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm, beginning Monday September 25th and ending Wednesday November 15th. Youth who successfully complete the program earn a stipend of $150.

Applicants must be Dutchess County residents ages 14-19. Click here to learn more about MADLab.

Fall MADLab 2023 flyer

2023 Fall Art Classes

drawing art class for youth in Poughkeepsie

Dynamic programming at The Art Effect combines both visual art and media art in immersive, experiential courses that allow youth to experience, explore and excel in the arts in Poughkeepsie. Fall 2023 art classes begin on September 7! Register by September 1 to receive an early bird discount.

Click on any of the classes listed below for more information or to register online:

Art classes for youth ages 5 – 8
Adventures in Color: Fridays, 4 – 5:30pm
Adventures in Song and Music: Fridays, 4 – 5:30pm

Art class for youth ages 8-11
Exploring Realistic Drawing: Saturdays, 1 – 3pm

art class at the art institute in Poughkeepsie, NY

Art classes for youth ages 11 – 14
Foundations in Digital Character Design: Saturdays, 1 – 3pm
Foundations in Digital Music Production: Saturdays, 3 – 5pm
Foundations in Film: Sundays, 10am – 12pm
Foundations in Painting: Fridays, 6 – 8pm

Art classes for youth and adults ages 14 – 19+
Portfolio Development Foundations: Thursdays, 6 – 9pm (no class 11/23)
Drawing and Painting the Human Figure: Sundays, 4 – 7pm
Portfolio in Comics & Character Design: Tuesdays, 6 – 9pm
Portfolio in Mixed Media Animation: Wednesdays, 5:30 – 8:30pm
Intermediate Portfolio in Drawing & Painting: Saturdays, 9:30am – 12:30pm
Senior Project: Thursdays, 6 – 9pm

Full and partial scholarships are available to those in economic need. To apply for a scholarship, please complete a Scholarship Application Form and send it to cy@thearteffect.org.

Programs provided by this agency are partially funded by monies received from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Summer Youth Workforce Applications Now Open

The Art Effect is now accepting applications through the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board (DCWIB) for the 2023 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)!

SYEP is a first come first serve program for youth who meet eligibility requirements. SYEP participants can $14.20 per hour for up to 25 hours per week.
Please write in The Art Effect and which program you are interested in applying for on the DCWIB application below.

SYEP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
✓ Resident of Dutchess County
✓ Family income being at or below 200% of poverty level
✓ On July 1, 2022, you are between the ages of 14 and 20 years old.
✓ Eligible to work in the U.S. and have proper identification

MADLab (Media, Arts & Design Lab) | July 5 – August 17
Monday – Thursday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm 

MADLab is an arts-based career and skills training program that trains youth in:

  • Visual art, graphic design, and aesthetic development skills
  • Creating public art projects with professional artists
  • Leadership and communication skills through public outreach

Create a mural for the Dutchess Community Empowerment Center as well as public art installations around the Trolley Barn and botanical installations on Pershing Avenue this summer!
Youth who complete MADLab earn a wage of $14.20/hr

Spark Studios | July 5 – August 17
Monday – Thursday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm 

Spark Studios is a media-based career and skills development program that trains youth through community client projects and origional creative film. Training includes::

  • Video production, camera operation, filmmaking techniques
  • Working with clients on commercial videos
  • Video editing software including sound mixing

Create original narrative shorts and Public Service Announcements to be entered into film festivals across the world this summer!
Youth who complete Spark Studios earn a wage of $14.20/hr

To apply for summer Spark Studios or MADlab, please submit your application directly to DCWIB:

Original, signed applications may be dropped off or mailed to:
DCWorks, 191 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Operating Hours 8:30am to 4:30pm

OR

Dropped off at the following locations:  

SOUTHERN DUTCHESS: The Beacon Recreation Center
Operating Hours 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
NORTHERN DUTCHESS: The Red Hook Community Center
Operating Hours 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
EASTERN DUTCHESS:     North East Community Center
Operating Hours 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

OR

Securely uploaded to DropBox (email alyson@dcwib.org for dropbox link)

PKX Reel Exposure Panelists

The Breaking Into The Business Film and Media Insider Panel will discuss how each of the panelists got their start in their industry. With a diverse level of experts including an entrepreneur, film director, actress, executive producer, and journalist on the panel, we will get a multigenerational understanding of what it means to be in the media industry including an up close and personal look at the various pathways available, opening minds to all possibilities! Hear from the panelists as they share their origin stories, future projects, and what skills may be helpful for youth looking to start out in their world.

Mary Stuart Masterson is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, mother of four, committed locavore and full time resident of the Hudson Valley. Her film, TV and theater career, includes roles in At Close Range, Some Kind of Wonderful, Immediate Family  [National Board of Review Award] Fried Green Tomatoes, Benny and Joon, and the Broadway musical, Nine [Tony Award nomination], with recent film roles in Daniel Isn’t Real, Sid is Dead, 5 Nights at Freddy’s and The Senior (in post-production). Mary Stuart moved to the Hudson Valley in 2006 when she directed, The Cake Eaters, starring Kristen Stewart and Bruce Dern (released in 2009). In 2016, Masterson founded Hudson Valley-based, Stockade Works, a crew training and mentorship non-profit, followed by Upriver Studios, a sound stage facility in Saugerties, and then her production company, Quality Pictures.  With her husband, Jeremy Davidson, she is co-founder of the Storyhorse Documentary Theater project. 

Nile Clarke is a long time media content specialist in all things creative with film and television experience from the Hudson Valley REGION in New York. Clarke directed her first film in Poughkeepsie and continues use the Hudson River as her backdrop. She is currently the EIC at TheGoodieDrop.com. The Goodie Drop is a good news and great media services outlet for the local community.

Jasmine Aiyana Garvin is an actress from Poughkeepsie, NY. She graduated from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in 2021 with a degree in Musical Theatre. Soon after, she received a spot in the 2021 Warner Brothers Television “Top 10 Actors in Training”, a global casting initiative for recent graduates from acting programs. You can find her listed amongst the talented cast of “Poker Face”, a murder mystery-of-the-week series by Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne on Peacock. She strives to push boundaries, create opportunities, and share her knowledge with others as much as possible. She is currently working with the Poughkeepsie City School District, Poughkeepsie Rising, and New York Stage and Film to strengthen the relationship between her community and the performing arts.

Hezues R.

Hezues R. is the founder of the S.I.C. (Social Impact Content) Film School, the first film school focused entirely on advocacy for Social Issues. We address Gun Violence, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and other issues through innovative programs like Glocs4Ocs, the country’s first Gun Exchange / STEM program which allows youth to trade in a gun and receive an Oculus VR Headset. The Founder of S.I.C. (Hezues R) has been Honored by Barack Obama for his work in Gun Violence Prevention. We offer schools Curriculum, Mentors, Teaching Artist (actively working on major productions) and Production Resources like our Ambulances converted as Mobile Classrooms, which operate as Podcast Studio, Editing, Video Village, and Full Production Vehicles. Students can produce content on location or we can pull up to schools that are under-resourced in Production Equipment.

Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson is an award winning journalist Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson became Vice President of News Programming and Executive Producer of NICK NEWS at Nickelodeon in October 2020. Prior to joining Nickelodeon, she worked for 60 MINUTES, America’s most watched news program, for 16 years.  She produced stories for Ed Bradley, Lesley Stahl, Steve Kroft and Anderson Cooper. She was a key producer on one of the broadcast’s most memorable and inspiring stories about an orchestra in the heart of Africa.  The Bob Simon story about the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra in the Democratic Republic of Congo won Peabody and Emmy accolades. Laguerre-Wilkinson has reported from the far corners of the world and covered domestic stories including Hurricanes Katrina in New Orleans and Sandy in New York.   Her Haitian roots have made her an invaluable producer on CBS News coverage of the country, including an Emmy-winning 60 MINUTES report on the deadly earthquake there in 2010. She also served as a correspondent for the “60 Minutes” online franchise, “60 MINUTES Overtime” and for CBS News.  In addition, she was a reporter for the CUNY-TV programs, “Arts in the City” and “Science & U” and co-hosted the Carnegie Council’s digital franchise, “Ethics Matter”. Laguerre-Wilkinson also serves as moderator and master of ceremonies for a number of events including The French Institute/Alliance Française 2015 and 2017 galas and The Voices of Faith Women’s Conference at The Vatican (2016, ’17, ’18 and ’19). Before joining 60 MINUTES, she worked as an associate producer and producer for anchorman Tom Brokaw at NBC News. The native New Yorker lives in Manhattan with her husband, Bruce and their daughters, Juliette and Joséphine. 

RSVP HERE to Save Your Seat!