Archive for the "PKX Festival Committee" Category

2024 Youth Workforce Programs

Spark Studios: Music Video Production
January 29 – March 21
Monday – Thursday, 3:00 – 5:30 PM

PUF Studios: 8 N. Cherry St, Poughkeepsie 
Spark Studios teaches film and media arts to empower youth voices, build workforce development skills, provide paid work experience, and help students get on a path to college and career success. This 8 week program will teach students ages 14-19 music video production including creating a collaborative song, and planning and producing a music video for this year’s PKX Festival, Droppin’ Jewels.

Media, Art, & Design Lab
January 29 – March 20
Monday – Wednesday, 3:00 – 5:30 PM

Pershing Studios: 45 Pershing Ave, Poughkeepsie 
MADLab is an “earn while you learn” arts-based career and skills training program that trains youth ages 14-19 in visual art, media art, and design careers. This session, youth will work on visual arts and graphic design projects while completing logo design for a real-life client!

Trolley Barn Youth Curatorial Team 
February 7 – June 15
Fridays 3:30 – 6:30 PM and Saturdays 12 – 4 PM
Trolley Barn Gallery: 489 Main St, Poughkeepsie
The Art Effect’s curatorial training program is composed of youth taking part in the Trolley Barn Gallery Curatorial Team who make high level exhibition curation decisions and are mentored by experts in the field. Teens ages 16-19 earn a stipend for working on two exhibitions, The Exhibition Where a Gallery Exhibits Anime Art, a pollution prevention exhibition (title TBD), cleanups in and around the Trolley Barn Gallery and the 2024 PKX Festival, Droppin’ Jewels.

Youth Arts Empowerment Zone (YAEZ)/ PKX Festival
February 5 – May 8
Monday and Wednesday, 3:00 – 5:30 PM 
Trolley Barn Gallery: 489 Main St, Poughkeepsie
YAEZ Liaisons are part of The Art Effect’s curatorial training programs at the Trolley Barn Gallery. YAEZ Liaisons focus on the impact of the community in and around the Trolley Barn Gallery. Youth employees earn a stipend as they learn the tactics of creative placemaking, marketing, outreach, event planning, and more while planning and running the 2024 PKX Festival, Droppin’ Jewels on April 18-20, 2024!

Please reach out to cy@thearteffect.org or 845.471.7477 with any questions.

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.

Paid Artist Opportunity

 Reel Exposure International Teen Film & Photography: A PKX Festival 
Submission Deadline: December 30, 2022
Email destiny@thearteffect.org for submission and/or questions 

The Art Effect is looking for an artist to create a projection-based work of art that allows for youth participation in the process of its creation. The artist would create the media work prior to the Reel Exposure Film & Photo Festival in collaboration with students of The Art Effect. The selected artist would be required to be in attendance on Saturday, May 6th to unveil and speak about the project, and Sunday, May 7th to speak on a panel alongside other film, photo, and media related professionals. Click HERE for more information.

Please submit the items listed below to be considered to Destiny@thearteffect.org:

  • Artist Bio
  • Resume and/or CV 
  • Sample of Work Portfolio (Website or google drive links welcome) 
  • Project Description (1 page)
  • Description of your projection concept 
  • What role do the youth play in the creation and execution of the proposal?
  • How do you imagine your work of art activating the public?
  • Proposed project budget ( See #6 for Budget details)

Empower Young Artists to Lead Community Transformation

“Being a part of The Art Effect has made me a more dynamic thinker. I feel so much more confident in my idea processing. Also, seeing the [Wonderland] exhibition come together makes me proud because we put so much effort and heart into this festival. I’m excited for the community to experience it.”

— Jadeen Sampson, Student at The Art Effect

This #GivingTuesday, The Art Effect is launching an annual campaign. Help us reach our goal of $30,000! We need your support to continue to empower young artists like Jadeen to find their voices and lead community transformation! Text ARTEFFECT to 44-321 or donate online right now!

Jadeen began his artistic journey with The Art Effect in 2016. At first, he was a shy high school student, quietly drawing in the corner of our Pershing St. studio. When we first met him he was anxious at the thought of showing anyone his art or speaking in front of his class. At The Art Effect, Jadeen found his voice.

It was during his Media, Art, Design Lab (MADLab) program, when Jadeen was just 17 years old, that his voice began to grow. Working with educators at The Art Effect, he showed not only talent but also leadership skills completing public art installations, business logos, and refining his drawing skills. The following year, shortly after Jadeen’s senior year in high school, he worked as a youth employee of The Art Effect to film and interview the 2019 candidates running for Poughkeepsie Mayor with hopes of encouraging more votes. Through hosting these interviews, he showed his growing self-confidence as he asked both candidates tough questions on police relations in Poughkeepsie and the revitalization of Poughkeepsie’s Main Street.

In 2020, Jadeen worked on The TAG At Dutchess, a county-funded website that allowed him to create content and graphics to connect youth with resources and remote job opportunities during the pandemic. He then worked with Forge Media as a youth filmmaker apprentice, and finally as a key member of the Youth Curatorial Team at Trolley Barn Gallery.

He has participated in almost every program The Art Effect has to offer and was given an Outstanding Youth Employee Award by the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board for his passion and dedication to his work. Over the past year, Jadeen has planned, curated, and even painted the pavement for our first annual PKX Arts Festival. Jadeen is an instrumental youth employee in our youth workforce training programs including MADLab, the Youth Curatorial Team, and the PKX Festival Committee! Jadeen, like so many others at The Art Effect, has big dreams of changing the world through his many artistic endeavors — from drawing to music to public speaking. Jadeen has developed the skills that now match his drive and confidence and he continues to support the mission of The Art Effect as a key advocate and leader in community transformation.

“I feel like art is really important, especially in this community. When we get to make art here like we did this summer it reminds us that this is home. It’s our home, Poughkeepsie, New York. Art helps us realize that.”

— Jadeen Sampson, Student at The Art Effect

The PKX Festival is the cornerstone of the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone where youth like Jadeen engage the community in high quality visual and performing arts experiences that they curate. Within the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone youth are the leaders that showcase the impact that arts and arts education can have on both an individual and on our community.

From youth-designed public art and gallery curation to arts education, The Art Effect connects young people like Jadeen with opportunities to develop new skills and engage in civic life. Through the emerging Youth Arts Empowerment Zone — including the annual PKX festival and public art installations, young people are transforming the visual landscape of Poughkeepsie and beyond. Help spark a youth-led renaissance throughout the Hudson Valley. Support the creative voices of youth in our community by donating today. To make a donation or learn more about the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone, donate today!

“Jadeen is living proof that the arts empower! He first joined our programs unsure of what he wanted out of life, and over the years has developed into a successful freelance artist and designer who is constantly giving back to the community. I was always impressed with him as a student, now I’m beyond proud to work with him as a young adult at the start of his arts career, and I’m so excited to see what the next generation of youth like Jadeen are capable of!”

— Mary Ellen Iatropoulos, Director of Programs

Mayor Proclaims PKX Day! Poughkeepsie Youth Take Over The City With PKX Arts Festival

PKX Paint the pavement

The exciting beginnings of the new Youth Arts Empowerment Zone spearheaded by The Art Effect can be seen on the streets of Middle Main Poughkeepsie this month thanks in part to the paint the pavement artists from the PKX Festival that took place on September 15-17, 2022. PKX festival featured a gorgeous sidewalk painting designed by students, Jadeen Sampson and Keli Faircloth, and created by local artist Nestor Madalengoitia and students from The Art Effect, a gallery exhibition, teen dance party, musical performances, food vendors, entertainment, and a wide variety of art-making activities from community partners including Hudson River HousingPoughkeepsie Public Library DistrictThinkubator NutritionArts Mid-HudsonCelebrating the African SpiritFallKill Creative WorksThe YOU (Youth Opportunity Union)Poughkeepsie High SchoolBoys and Girls Club of Newburgh/PPAAMarist Liberty Partnership ProgramPK Open StudiosPoughkeepsie Farm ProjectHUDSYNuvance HealthThe Dutchess County Chamber of CommerceSNUGThe Frances Lehman Loeb Art CenterPlanned ParenthoodMASS Design Group, and Vassar College.

The festival that brought in more than 700 people over the course of three days was a “Huge Success” says Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt, Executive Director of The Art Effect who also runs the Trolley Barn Gallery in Poughkeepsie, NY. “We are so proud of what the students in our community have helped create. Not only are their futures looking bright, but we got a glimpse into how bright the future of public art throughout Poughkeepsie is and what it can mean for this community,” says Nicole.

The PKX Festival serves as a building block to the development of Youth Arts Empowerment Zone, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant, establishing a youth-led arts district in and around the Trolley Barn Gallery, the only youth-led gallery in the state! “The Youth Arts Empowerment Zone is an integral part of our community. The festival is another great example of how the arts in Poughkeepsie are providing an avenue for people to come together and be proud of where they live,” says Poughkeepsie Mayor, Rob Rolison. The mayor declared September 17, 2022 as PKX Day in the City of Poughkeepsie which will reoccur for each year’s festival.

Over the last eighteen months, PKX Festival Youth Committee consisting of Poughkeepsie High School students and alumni worked alongside artist duo BoogieREZ and Curator Alison M. Glenn to create and curate various art experiences throughout the festival including a public art installation and an artfully curated exhibition. The PKX Committee is one of The Art Effect’s newest youth training programs at the Trolley Barn Gallery where students learn and practice public speaking skills, conduct presentations to government officials and learn about place making – a people-centered approach to planning, designing and managing public spaces.

“Being a part of the Youth Curatorial Team has made me a more dynamic thinker. I feel so much more confident in my idea processing. Also, seeing the [Wonderland] exhibition come together makes me proud of myself and my colleagues, because we put so much effort and heart into this festival and I’m so excited for the community to experience it.”  says Jadeen Sampson, Curatorial Team and PKX Festival Youth Member

The Art Effect is interviewing and hiring the next group of PKX Committee youth to help plan the 2023 PKX Festival, “Droppin’ Jewels” next fall and promises to be even bigger and better with more than 1,000 people in attendance. “Seeing the exhibition come together makes me proud of myself and my colleagues because we put so much effort and heart into this festival,” comments Jadeen,. “The main goal is to do it again, we want it to be a success.” he said.

To get involved with The Art Effect in the development of the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone, or the PKX Festival, reach out to PKXFestival@TheArtEffect.org or to see a gallery of photos from this year’s festival and stay up to date on the plans for next year, visit PKXFestival.org

Who’s Behind the PKX Logo Taking Over Poughkeepsie?

What started out as a class project during one of The Art Effect’s youth workforce programs, MADLab (Media, Art, Design Lab), has become a staple image throughout downtown Poughkeepsie over the last couple months. As one of The Art Effect’s youngest workforce students, Latiana Belton is the talented artist behind the now ‘famous’ PKX Festival Logo!

The PKX Festival will take place on September 15-17, 2022 in downtown Poughkeepsie activating locations along Main Street and North Cherry Street as the new Youth Arts Empowerment Zone (YAEZ).

“It feels exciting to see the logo that I created everywhere, says Latiana. The logo is not only a part of a cool new arts festival but is also featured in a public art sculpture we worked on this summer with Artist Duo, BoogieREZ that will be unveiled at the Festival on Saturday, September 17.”

PKX Festival serves as  a building block to the development of Youth Arts Empowerment Zone, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant, establishing a youth-led arts district in and around the Trolley Barn Gallery, the only youth-led gallery in the state! This year’s festival themed, Wonderland, features community-wide art, performances, and workshops. Throughout the year, PKX Festival Youth Committee Members worked alongside artist duo BoogieREZ and Curator Alison M. Glenn to create and curate various art experiences throughout the festival including a public art installation and an artfully curated exhibition. 

“Community art-making is at the heart of the PKX Festival.” Says Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt, Executive Director at The Art Effect who also runs the Trolley Barn Gallery in Poughkeepsie, NY. “From painting the pavement to workshops, music, face painting, juried exhibition, and partner booths — there is something for everyone at PKX this weekend.”

Latiana’s PKX logo will be on display throughout the festival and can be found stenciled along Main Street’s sidewalks, on tee shirts for sale, and it will even be featured in the interactive public art installation that we invite the public to come add their mark to!

For the full schedule and more information about the festival lineup, visit PKXFestival.org

PKX Team Highlights

Meet Harrison Brisbon-McKinnon 

Harrison

“Being a member of PKX has provided me an opportunity to give the power of photography to the City of Poughkeepsie.” -Harrison 

Harrison is a senior at Poughkeepsie High School. Post-graduation, he aspires to be a professor of sociology. He loves photography because it allows him to capture the beauty in our world that most of us overlook. Photography calls him the power of shifting one’s perception. Over the past four months, He has dedicated his time to neighbors to figure out what they need. Harrison has learned advocating for one’s community is the first step in changing its image.

Meet Destiny Kearney 

“I love being able to participate in laying the stepping stones of the development of a youth arts empowerment zone in the City of Poughkeepsie. The PKX Festival will truly highlight the wonders that exist in the city, and I’m excited to see the community come together to make it happen” – Destiny 

Destiny Kearney is a New York-based artist who recently graduated from Bowdoin College, with a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies, Art History, and Visual Arts.Embarking on her post-grad journey, Kearney joins the Art Effect team as the Trolley Barn Fellow. She will be with us for the next two years as a member of the first cohort of Lead for Poughkeepsie Fellows, a branch of the Lead for America program.

PKX Festival Community Partners

PKX Youth Committee works with community partners across the county including; 

  • MASSDesign
  • Barrett Art Center
  • Hudson River Housing
  • FallKill Creative Works
  • Dutchess Tourism 
  • The YOU (Youth Opportunity Union)
  • The City of Poughkeepsie
  • Arts Mid-Hudson
  • WomensWork.Art
  • Poughkeepsie Public Library District 

Our list is continuing to grow as we get closer to the first PKX Festival in September 2022

Are you interested in being involved in the upcoming PKX Festival to be held in September 2022 at the Trolley Barn?

Please fill out this form to be considered.

PKX Festival Featured Artist

Boogie Rez

The PKX Youth committee worked closely with a curatorial advisory committee, made up of Hudson Valley curators and art professionals to create a list of potential featured artists to consider based on the theme, and the scope of their practice in conjunction with the mission of the festival. After youth researched and sorted through applicants, they decided that BoogieRez would be the perfect choice for the first PKX Festival in September 2022. Stay tuned for more info coming soon on how you can work with BoogieRez and the PKX Committee this spring!

“Our mission is to share our love of creativity and ill visuals with the WORLD. To Inspire, to Impact and Empower one another while having hella FUN time together through our growth, challenges, and experiences.” –  BoogieRez 


PK in the Know: Community Outreach

“Where do you want to see more art in the City of Poughkeepsie”

“What would you do to beautify the Trolley Barn?”

Are you an artist or community organization that would like to get involved? Fill out this short survey HERE!