Founded in 2020 by Helen Toomer of STONELEAF RETREAT to celebrate the cultural vibrancy of Upstate New York, UPSTATE ART WEEKEND connects people and places, building a community that not only visits for the weekend, but explores the Hudson Valley throughout the year.  The City of Poughkeepsie participated in the 2021 event by transforming Dongan Square Park and the site of Pelton Manor into a temporary sculpture garden, curated as an Upstate Immersive project by SPRING/BREAK Art Show. 

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The Poughkeepsie Sculpture Garden featured a special curatorial collaboration with River Hill Art Residency co-founder and frequent SPRING/BREAK curator Zahra Sherzad, made possible by the support of the City of Poughkeepsie and the Poughkeepsie Public Arts Commission. Additionally, UPSTATE IMMERSIVE hosted the official Upstate Art Weekend Closing Event on the evening of Sunday, August 29th, with special performances curated by Sherzad including Miriam Parker, Spencer Zahn, andDarius Christian, Busquelo, and an end of summer fireworks display presented by the City of Poughkeepsie.