PKX Festival
The annual PKX Festival plays a pivotal role in advancing the development of the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone (YAEZ) centered in and around Poughkeepsie, NY. The 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.
Due to inclement weather: ALL EVENTS will now take place indoors at the Family Partnership Center
Family Partnership Center
29 N Hamilton St.
Poughkeepsie, NY
The 2025 PKX Festival is designed and produced by the Poughkeepsie Board of Artistic Youth (PK B.A.Y.) which brings together students from six youth serving organizations: Boys & Girls Club of Poughkeepsie, Community Matters 2, Esperanza Dutchess County Hispanic Organization, Nubian Directions II, and The Art Effect with support from Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet. The PK B.A.Y. is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Poughkeepsie using public art activities and instillations to foster creative expression and civic engagement and build youth voices within community leadership.
“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
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
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.
Empowering
Poughkeepsie
PKX Festival began as a building block to the development of the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone funded by the NEA Our Town Grant in the City of Poughkeepsie, NY. The Youth Arts Empowerment Zone is working to establish a youth-led arts district in Poughkeepsie with The Art Effect as the anchor arts institution.
The Youth Arts Empowerment Zone (YAEZ) is a long-term initiative that fosters youth-driven place-keeping through artistic expression, empowering the existing community within this space. This festival features music, public art installations, family-oriented activities, a film showcase, a teen art exhibition, and more! The PKX Festival is a platform for youth artistry, embracing both emerging and accomplished young artists. Carefully curated films take the spotlight in a compelling showcase, while selected 2-D and 3-D artworks show off the talent of local youth.
The success of The PKX Festival is the culmination of the dedicated efforts of The Art Effect’s workforce programs, which include YAEZ Liaisons and PK BAY, MADLab, and Spark Studios. These programs work to oversee the range of festival elements, ranging from reviewing art submissions and the conceptualization of themes, to the precise curation of the exhibition, the crafting of promotional content, the selection of performers, the coordination of community activities, and the creation of striking public artworks.
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.
