Bardavon director outlines community-focused plans for programming

Brian Zellmar, executive director of Bardavon Presents, introduced himself to the Poughkeepsie Public Arts Commission and outlined plans to deepen the organization's ties to Poughkeepsie and nearby communities.

Zellmar said he intends to expand partnerships, bring programming outside the theater walls and recruit broader community participation in leadership and programming decisions. "I want them to tell me what they wanna see and help, help me figure out the programming as we go forward," he said.

Zellmar described a career in venue management spanning small and large theaters and said he is splitting time between Poughkeepsie and Kingston while he settles into the role. He told commissioners he inherited "a very successful program, and I don't have a giant ego where I wanna come in and quickly get my stamp on things and make it about me. I don't wanna mess it up." That, he said, gives him time to build relationships and find gaps in local arts offerings.

Commissioners asked about diversity in hiring and board composition. Zellmar said his approach is relationship-based: "It's going out, finding out who lives in the community, and having them tell me what they want, and getting them involved in being part of the leadership," adding that building trust will be a long-term effort.

Commissioners and other meeting participants encouraged collaborations with other local venues and youth education programs. Zellmar noted prior work placing touring artists through partnerships and said similar cooperation could help bring larger acts or training programs to Poughkeepsie, subject to staff and funding constraints.

The commission offered support for outreach and promotion, and members said they will follow up at a working session to discuss specific opportunities to connect Bardavon with local artists, schools and events.