Poughkeepsie Open Studios organizers ask Public Arts Commission for sponsorship and outreach help

Organizers of Poughkeepsie Open Studios asked the Poughkeepsie Public Arts Commission on May 15 to consider sponsoring the event, helping with promotion and creating a small fund to cover participation fees for artists who cannot afford them.

The request came during a presentation from Nikki Hung, gallery director at Women's Work Art and the 2025 Open Studios lead organizer, and Eleanor Levy, co-organizer and assistant director at Women's Work Art. Hung said Open Studios will expand beyond visual arts to include performances, music, dance and literary events, and that Gallery 40 will host a launch party and a wrap party to build community among participating artists. "We would never, I would say we would not turn anyone away if they came to us and said, look, simply cannot afford it," Hung…