PKX Festival and Teen Art Exhibition Coming Soon!

Reel Exposure International Teen Film and Photography Festival

May 5-7, 2023

Screening & Festival at the Trolley Barn Gallery

The Art Effect’s annual Reel Exposure International Teen Film and Photography Festival in Poughkeepsie, NY is open for submissions and celebrating its 10th year! This year’s festival will be even bigger and better than before as we return to an in-person festival featuring innovative photography and short films – narrative, animation, experimental, and documentary – created by talented young artists, ages 13-19 from across the world, plus family-friendly festival activities, panel discussion, and MUCH MORE!

New for 2023, Reel Exposure will be brought to you by The Art Effect’s PKX Festival, an exciting building block to the development of the 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 Gallery. In addition to youth-produced short films, and a photography exhibition, Reel Exposure: A PKX Festival will also feature youth-led public art installations and more TBD.

Reel Exposure: A PKX Festival brings together a diverse representation of youth-produced films and photography, from both newcomers to the craft, as well as established young artists. The selected films are screened in a showcase and the selected photography is hung as an exhibition at the Trolley Barn Gallery in Poughkeepsie, NY — The ONLY youth-led gallery in the nation!

Reel Exposure: A PKX Festival encompasses all of The Art Effect’s goals: to encourage youth creativity, to invigorate our local community through the arts, and to showcase the incredible work done by this next generation of media-makers.

The past two years of the festival went virtual and were a smashing success with more than 2,200 viewers from across the globe tuning in, along with a live Q&A panel with festival finalists. This year’s festival will take place in person on May 5-7, 2023, but will still allow international attendees to join us for the festival online with a virtual gallery and an online screening of the film showcase.

“Seeing a film you put all of this work into actually get attention, to have people genuinely enjoy something you made at Reel Exposure, it’s really special, especially when you’re just starting out. It was a call to action for me, like, ‘This is something you’re supposed to do, keep at it!” – Matthew Hamilton, 2020 Reel Exposure Participant

About the Photography Exhibition

Professional and youth jurors selected photographs from submissions from teens ages 13-19 across the world. In the past, submissions have come from Singapore, Italy, Islamic Republic of Iran, and the United States. Opening with a public reception, this exciting youth exhibition remains on display at the Trolley Barn Gallery and is accompanied by a virtual gallery tour for those unable to attend. Photography Exhibition opening will be on May 5, 2023.

About the Film Festival

Viewers can expect to see a mix of film genres in film festival lineup, including animations, documentaries, dramas, horror, and comedies from teen filmmakers on Saturday, May 6, 2023. In the past, submissions have come from The United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Mexico, China, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Please consider becoming a sponsor to help support the youth arts programming taking place in the Hudson Valley right now!

This program is partially funded by monies received from the New York State Council on the Arts and is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Art Effect empowers youth to develop their artistic voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change.

Volunteers Needed for PKX!

Sign up to volunteer at the PKX Wonderland Festival!

The Art Effect is seeking volunteers of all ages to help with our youth-directed arts festival, PKX:Wonderland! The festival takes places Sept 15-17 and we have opportunities for volunteers on each day.

Click Here to Sign Up

Food Trucks Wanted!

We would love to invite you to join us as a food or drink vendor. Registration for vendors at the PKX festival is free!
September 17, 2022

Participating vendors will receive: 

• Prominent display of logo at event and in event program;  
• Business publicity to 200+ Guests;  
• Reach of 5,700 email contacts;
• 38,000 website views;
• Social media recognition to more than 10,000 followers; 
• Media coverage throughout the Hudson Valley. 

Please email pkxfestival@thearteffect.org or destiny@thearteffect.org by August 29th if you are interested, have questions, or would like additional information. Thank you for your participation and support. 

Call for Artists

The Trolley Barn Gallery and the PKX Festival Committee are looking for performers for the First Annual PKX Arts Festival in Poughkeepsie, NY on September 15-17, 2022!

Are you ready to share your gifts with the Poughkeepsie community and beyond? We are looking for creatives of all kinds to perform at the PKX Festival happening September 15-17! Visit @PKXFestival on IG for more info or click here to apply

The festival will feature the unveiling of an original public art commission, food, performances, and creative activities in and around the Trolley Barn Gallery on Main St, Poughkeepsie. In support of local youth, community, and the arts, PKX is expecting over 200 participants. The event is free of charge, open to the public, and will be advertised throughout the Hudson Valley. 

We are excited to incorporate a variety of live performances during the duration of the festival, and we need you! 
Please keep in mind that this is a youth-friendly event and the music played should be appropriate for younger audiences.

Participating performers will receive: 

• Prominent display in the event program and throughout the event;  
• Business publicity to 200+ attendees;  
• Listing in festival emails to 5,700 contacts;
• Listing with a link on The Art Effect’s festival website with 38,000 monthly views;
• Social media spotlight to more than 10,000 followers across platforms; 
• Media coverage throughout the Hudson Valley. 

Please email mmays@d-mmc.us for technical support.
Please email destiny@thearteffect.org for event logistics or additional information. 

$200 Stipend, Applications close on August 12!

BoogieRez

Come check out the unveiling of the public art installation created by some of The Art Effect’s youth and this year’s INCREDIBLE guest artist @riiisaboogie@rezones
Learn more about the PKX Festival:Wonderland and how YOU can get involved https://thearteffect.org/event/pkx

Wonderland Wednesday

Take a peek behind the scenes into our first annual PKX Festival, Wonderland! Hudson Valley teens “danced through the decades” with a silent disco at the Trolley Barn Gallery hosted by Poughkeepsie Open Studios and the PKX Youth Committee. Catch even more behind the scenes videos leading up to the PKX Festival on September 15-17, 2022 each “Wonderland Wednesday” every other week and learn more about the festival here!

PKX Sticker Challenge

In honor of the upcoming PKX Festival, the youth committee has launched a sticker challenge. Follow @PKXFestival on Instagram to see where you can pick up your sticker!

Here’s how the challenge works:

1. Pick up a sticker at the Trolley Barn Gallery, 489 Main St. Poughkeepsie
2. Color and design your PKX logo sticker
3. Snap a photo and post your design on IG: tag us using #PKXFestival AND @PKXFestival
4. DM a screenshot of your post to @PKXFestival or email pkxfestival@thearteffect.org

100 Days Until PKX!

Can you believe the PKX Festival is only 100 days away! The PKX Youth Committee is excited and you should be too. Prepare to enter an otherworlldly empire of art, illusion, and surprise! There will be art, music, food, and performances from throughout the community.

Mark your calendar! September 15-17, 2022 at the Trolley Barn Gallery!