The call is OPEN for the PKX Exhibition - part of the 3rd Annual PKX Teen Arts and Film Festival, celebrating art and film created by teens ages 14-19 from around the globe. The PKX Exhibition celebrates imaginative and original artworks created by young people who have a passion for their medium, and a desire to share it with their peers and artists around the world.If you feel your work is too weird, too different, or too crazy - it’s perfect for this exhibition - where teen artists take the lead on taking art in a new direction. 

We are accepting all 2D and 3D work by artists ages 14-19 from anywhere in the world. We are also accepting film submissions for the Film Festival showcase of the PKX Festival. SUBMIT FILMS using  https://filmfreeway.com/PKX . 

The PKX Exhibition is the most recent exhibition from the Trolley Barn Curatorial Team and is a key element of The Art Effect’s Annual PKX Festival. This international juried teen exhibition will be held April 18 through May 17, 2024 at The Art Effect's Trolley Barn Gallery, 489 Main St, Poughkeepsie, New York, with an Opening Reception Thursday, April 18, 6-8 pm as first day and entry point of the PKX Festival. For our juried exhibitions, the Trolley Barn Gallery brings together an international roster of vital voices in art and culture, presenting thought-provoking artwork and ideas that reinvent the industrial space that is the hub for the area’s thriving arts scene.

Sale of Works:
Exhibiting artists may specify a retail price for work that is available for purchase or “NFS” (Not for Sale). To better support youth artists, The Art Effect waives its usual commission fee, you artist who sell art will receive 100% of the profits. 

IMPORTANT DATES:

Call Dates: November 3, 2023 - January 16, 2024
Notification of accepted artwork: February 3, 2024
Delivery and arrival of accepted artwork: March 12 - March 30 

Exhibition: April 18 - May 17, 2024

Opening Reception: April 18, 6-8pm

Return Shipping and pickup of accepted artwork: May 21 - June 8

About the PKX Festival:

PKX Festival is 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 Art Effect’s annual PKX Festivals in and around the Trolley Barn Gallery in Poughkeepsie, NY feature innovative artwork, photography and short films – created by talented young artists, ages 14-19 from across the world, plus family-friendly festival activities, and MUCH MORE! Save the date for April 18 - 20, 2024!

About The Art Effect:

The Art Effect empowers young people to develop their creative voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. The Art Effect (formerly Mill Street Loft + Spark Media Project) helps youth explore, experience, and excel in the arts, introducing them to visual arts and media, giving them the opportunity to develop real skills in these fields, and guiding them towards achieving their academic and career goals. We believe that the arts have the power to create a more vibrant, caring, and sustainable world led by a generation of youth who value creative thinking, diverse voices, and stronger connections between all people. The Art Effect directly serves over 2,000 young people throughout the Hudson Valley each year. The mission of The Art Effect at the Trolley Barn is to train youth as leaders who catalyze the community through the arts and re-energize downtown Poughkeepsie. Exhibitions at the Trolley Barn are free and open to the public — so there are no financial barriers to access.

About the Trolley Barn Gallery:

The mission of The Art Effect at the Trolley Barn is to train youth as leaders who catalyze the community through the arts and re-energize downtown Poughkeepsie. The iconic Poughkeepsie Trolley Barn will be reactivated with youth in the driver's seat of this incredible space, empowering them to engage community members and visitors in transformative arts experiences that they curate.

About the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone (YAEZ):

The Youth Arts Empowerment Zone (YAEZ) is a long-term initiative to establish a youth-led arts district along Main Street in Poughkeepsie with The Art Effect as the anchor arts institution. This initiative is a roadmap for place-keeping through the arts.

Thank you to The Art Effect’s gallery sponsor, FastSigns of Wappingers Falls.

Application Requirements

The Trolley Barn Gallery is only accepting art from artists between the ages of 14 - 19years old. The art must be READY TO HANG upon arrival with either D-Rings, wire attached, functional mounting or display mechanisms, and/or include legible and detailed installation instructions. Art that is not hangable and/or exhibition ready will not be displayed in the exhibition. The art must be family-friendly and appropriate for viewing at all ages. Artists will be notified within approximately 2-3 weeks after the call deadline in an email about the selection status of their entries. Artwork selected for the exhibition will be shown in the Trolley Barn Gallery as well as in a virtual online exhibition that mirrors the physical showcase.

Eligibility Criteria

We recommend a maximum of 7 feet in any direction; there is no minimum. 2D artwork should not weigh in excess of 65 pounds. Artwork must be exhibition ready with appropriate frames and hardware as applicable (we prefer wire hanging systems but any hanging mechanism is accepted). Please contact us at trolleybarn@feelthearteffect.org for consideration if your work exceeds these specifications or if your work needs special instructions – we may be able to accommodate your work. The Trolley Barn Gallery is suitable for a range of artwork sizes and media, and we are pleased to work with invited artists to ensure effective installation and presentation of their artwork. Site plan available on request. If you have less than three images or media, please create a blank image that reads "This page intentionally left blank" in order to meet the minimum of three uploads.