The Art Effect Announces Departure from the Trolley Barn Gallery
Continues Commitment to Uplifting Youth and Creativity in the Hudson Valley.
After four years of fostering creativity and serving as a hub for the arts community at the Trolley Barn Gallery in the middle-main area of Poughkeepsie, The Art Effect announces it will be departing the space in early 2025. This move marks the closing of a significant chapter in the organization’s history, but the mission to empower youth through the arts remains more vital than ever.
The Trolley Barn Gallery’s final exhibition will be the Senior Project Showcase, open to the public from December 13, 2024, through January 10, 2025. This exhibition highlights new bodies of work from high school seniors and gap year students participating in The Art Effect’s most intensive Arts Institute program, Senior Project.
“The Trolley Barn Gallery has been an important part of our story, and saying goodbye is not easy. However, we are committed to what lies ahead,” said Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt, Executive Director of The Art Effect. “Our focus remains on the young artists we serve, and we will continue to create spaces and opportunities that empower them to grow, thrive, and make positive change.”
The decision to leave the Trolley Barn culminates a four-and-a-half-year effort with Hudson River Housing (HRH), the building’s owner and landlord, to develop a safe, sound, and affordable home for The Art Effect. During this period, The Art Effect had many successes in their fundraising efforts including being awarded large state capital funds; however, HRH, was unable to undertake the improvements that would allow the project to move forward, and ultimately announced their decision to sell the building. Additionally, increased concerns about safety for youth program participants, staff, and visitors has been a growing challenge. “Our priority is the well-being of the young people, artists, and community we serve, and we are committed to providing safe and inspiring spaces for creativity,” said Shailee Johnson, Board Chair.
Despite this transition, The Art Effect will continue to offer its flagship programs, including the workforce development programs, the PKX Festival, Senior Project, and Art Institute classes and camps. Additionally, the Teen Vision exhibition, and Pollution Prevention initiatives, are set to continue throughout 2025 in community spaces. While the Trolley Barn Gallery has been a cornerstone for exhibition programming, the organization’s arts and media studios and classes are housed in long-standing locations at Pershing Avenue and the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory. The Art Effect is also working closely with its network of longtime partners and dedicated supporters to sustain these and other programs across spaces in Poughkeepsie and beyond.
“The Art Effect is not confined by walls or defined by a single location—it’s a creative movement and mission that continues to evolve and inspire,” added Fenichel-Hewitt. “We are excited for the opportunities ahead of us and are looking forward.”
