160 Hudson Valley and Catskills Organizations Unite for Upstate Art Weekend 2026

On June 25, Upstate Art Weekend (UAW) will commence with a celebration at Olana State Historic Site, once the home of lauded Hudson River School landscape painter Frederic Edwin Church. The gathering, organized in partnership with Bloomberg Connects, is the first of three community events (including the official Upstate Art Weekend Dance Party with NOISE FOR NOW) that will introduce this year’s sprawling five-day art experience to both Upstate New York residents and visitors. One never needs an invitation to explore the depth and diversity of Upstate New York art, but UAW provides one that’s impossible to ignore.

“The Hudson Valley and Catskills have become one of the most exciting cultural regions in the country because of the artists, arts organizations, residency programs, galleries, and cultural leaders who have cultivated an extraordinary creative ecosystem,” Helen Toomer, Upstate Art Weekend’s founder, tells Surface. “UAW exists to celebrate and connect that community, amplify its voices, and create meaningful pathways for audiences to experience art throughout the region.”

This year, a web of 160 institutions demonstrates the artistic depth of 10 New York State counties and affirms why something like Upstate Art Weekend is integral. “It has been an absolute joy to watch UAW grow over the years—from a grassroots initiative into a region-wide collaboration that brings together hundreds of artists, organizations, and cultural spaces,” Toomer adds. “What continues to inspire me is not only the incredible quality and diversity of work being created here, but also the generosity, passion, and commitment of the people who make this community so special.”

As with previous editions, participants range from beloved cultural beacons such as Storm King Art Center, Dia Art Foundation, PS21 : Center for Contemporary Performance, and Jack Shainman Gallery / The School to pioneering and profound art and design destinations, including the Wassaic Project, Manitoga / The Russel Wright Design Center, Foreland, KinoSaito Art Center, and Art Omi. “Every year, I discover new artists, new spaces, and new stories, and I’m continually reminded that the magic of this region comes from the connections between people,” Toomer says.

“Seeing audiences venture off the beaten path, artists form new relationships, and organizations support one another in meaningful ways is what makes this work so rewarding. UAW is a celebration of that collective spirit, and I feel incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped shape this growing cultural movement,” she concludes. “The creativity, collaboration, and generosity I see across the region continue to amaze me, and I can’t wait to see what new discoveries, connections, and opportunities emerge across the region in the years ahead.”