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Poughkeepsie Arts Commission to help lead Juneteenth arts-and-education walk on June 21
Summary
The commission affirmed its participation in Poughkeepsie's second annual Juneteenth celebration, planning an arts-and-education walking museum on June 21 that will include a parade from Market Street to Warriors Park and programming at multiple downtown venues.
The Poughkeepsie Public Arts Commission on May 15 discussed its role in the city’s second annual Juneteenth celebration and agreed to participate in an arts-and-education walk scheduled around the June 21 city events.
Commissioners heard from organizers that Growing Stems, led by Liz O'Rafferty, will partner with the commission to produce a walking museum showing art and educational content reflecting the Black diaspora. The commission's portion of the event will include artist calls, vendor opportunities and a Saturday-night music event dubbed "Saturday Night Soul," curated by the commission’s member (name provided in meeting). "We are partnering with Growing Stems, which is led by Liz O'Rafferty. And we are going to be doing arts and education walk," a presenter said.
Organizers said the Juneteenth celebration will run about a week of events, with the parade expected to start at noon on June 21 and main activities at Warriors Park beginning about 1 p.m. The parade route as described in the meeting will run from Market Street down Main Street and end at Warriors Park. The commission said it will have a presence in the parade and across Warriors Park events.
Commissioners and organizers discussed logistics including calls for artists, vendor selection and a tentative Saturday evening performance series. The commission plans to publicize an artist call and to coordinate with schools and community groups on educational content. No formal vote or appropriation was taken at the meeting; organizers and commissioners said additional planning meetings will follow.
Commission leadership also noted the commission's next regular meeting — originally scheduled for June 19 — falls on the Juneteenth federal holiday and said they will set an alternate meeting date and inform the public.
