Poughkeepsie youth-led public art initiative seeks artist proposals: Here are the details

Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal
Updated ·2 min read

Young people of the City of Poughkeepsie are looking for artists to help them transform several city blocks in Poughkeepsie.

The youth-led initiative, Poughkeepsie Board of Artistic Youth, is driven by 12 teenage leaders between 14 and 17, as representatives of The Art Effect, Family Services, Community Matters 2 and the Boys & Girls Club.

From top left, Sagiv “Blue” Baker, L’Quette Taylor, Raheem Webb and Xayvion White, as well as from bottom left, Phyenix Young-White, Jazylo Alexis-Taylor and Andrea Martinez Lopez representing some of the youth leaders from PK B.A.Y.
From top left, Sagiv “Blue” Baker, L’Quette Taylor, Raheem Webb and Xayvion White, as well as from bottom left, Phyenix Young-White, Jazylo Alexis-Taylor and Andrea Martinez Lopez representing some of the youth leaders from PK B.A.Y.

New works of public art will be used to transform and activate the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone, a multi-block area anchored by The Art Effect's Trolley Barn on Main Street in Poughkeepsie. The teens are looking for murals, sculptures and media-based projects from professional artists of all ages.

The artist selected will work alongside PK B.A.Y. and begin planning in early 2024 for a project to launch in the spring.

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Poughkeepsie public art proposal: What to know

PK B.A.Y. works to promote and foster youth voices within community leadership, civic engagement and entrepreneurship. The initiative was developed by a coalition of youth-serving non-profits.

The Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet is using grant funding from The Wallace Foundation to facilitate the initiative. All the teens working for the initiative are also getting a stipend for their time spent, and are receiving technical and instructional support from The Art Effect staff.

The larger effort of PK B.A.Y. involves promoting positivity, inspiring the community and supporting local efforts to stop violence and drug abuse.

“We are looking forward to seeing how the project will impact our community in a positive way,” Micah Jumpp, ACC Americorps Member and Digital Community Engagement Fellow and lead on the PK B.A.Y initiative, said in a statement. “The PK B.A.Y hopes that this project will reach both the hearts and minds of everyone who sees it in our city.”

From left, Micah Jumpp, a Trolley Barn Gallery fellow alongside PK B.A.Y. youth leaders Andrea Martinez Lopez, Peter Sealy, Edwin Gomez-Perez, Raheem Webb, Avi Reeves, Phyenix Young-White, Jazylo Alexis-Taylor and Xayvion White.
From left, Micah Jumpp, a Trolley Barn Gallery fellow alongside PK B.A.Y. youth leaders Andrea Martinez Lopez, Peter Sealy, Edwin Gomez-Perez, Raheem Webb, Avi Reeves, Phyenix Young-White, Jazylo Alexis-Taylor and Xayvion White.

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How to apply for Poughkeepsie Board of Artistic Youth project

The project calls for an artist to create a public art installation that allows for youth and community participation in the process of its creation.

An example of a past public art project from The Art Effect.
An example of a past public art project from The Art Effect.

Submissions are due Jan. 7 and must incorporate one of the following themes:

  • Unity, connection, and peace

  • Anti-violence

  • Poughkeepsie and its indigenous history

  • Drug abuse prevention and the negative effects of drugs

Artists will be notified Jan. 19 if they have been accepted for the project and work could start as early as Feb. 6, with a completion date of June 28.

From left, Keli Faircloth, and David Wong, community art and design program manager working on a past public art project at The Art Effect's Trolley Barn in the City of Poughkeepsie.
From left, Keli Faircloth, and David Wong, community art and design program manager working on a past public art project at The Art Effect's Trolley Barn in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Interested artists can read the full Request for Proposal on the Art Effect's website and submit via email micah@thearteffect.org.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie youth-led public art initiative calls for artists