TOP PICKS
Hudson Valley museums, theaters & art centers
America’s first arts movement started here in 1825, and paintings by the Hudson River School artists can be found in major museums throughout the world. Modern art is well represented with places such as Storm King Arts Center and Dia:Beacon, both international destinations. Cultural festivals and various artistic performances speak to the diversity of the region, while art colonies and craft villages offer inside views of skilled artisans at work.
Albany Institute of History & Art
Albany County
Founded in 1791, the Albany Institute of History & Art is a museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting and promoting interest in the history, art, and culture of Albany and the upper Hudson Valley region.
125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY
ASK – Arts Society of Kingston Gallery
Ulster County
Art gallery, performance space, other events, and Kingston Sculpture Biennial. Open year-round. First Saturday Art Openings: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
97 Broadway, Kingston, NY
Bridge Street Theatre
Greene County
A three-space performing and visual arts complex housed in a refurbished industrial building. The theatre hosts a dazzling array of intimate theatre, cabaret and other musical performances, magic shows, art installations and more.
44 West Bridge St., Catskill, NY
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
Westchester County
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is a destination for exceptional music and gardens. Tour the historic Rosen House, enjoy a pre-concert picnic, and discover music in the relaxed settings of the Venetian Theater, Spanish Courtyard, and magnificent gardens.
149 Girdle Ridge Rd, Katonah, NY
Crawford House
Orange County
Built in 1830, the mansion is Greek Revival with Federal elements. Spectacular views of Newburgh Bay and the largest collection of Hudson River School paintings in the area. Hudson River sloop and steamboat models display. April–Oct.
189 Montgomery Street, Newburgh, NY
Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center
Rockland County
Visit Nyack, the birthplace and childhood home of eminent realist painter Edward Hopper. In addition to exhibits on his work and life, the Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center features the work of emerging and established artists.
82 North Broadway, Nyack, NY
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
Dutchess County
Located on the Vassar College campus, this free museum contains over 21,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, textiles, and glass and ceramic wares.
124 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY
Garnerville Arts & Industrial Center
Rockland County
A former textile mill, the complex now houses light industry, wholesale distributors and artists and artisans. This mix of tenants has led to the development of a flourishing and vital industrial and arts community. The company has supported the influx of artists and artisans through the creation of artist studio spaces and the designation of two spaces as galleries for annual open studio/art expo weekends and other arts-related exhibits and events.
55 W Railroad Ave, Garnerville, NY
Hudson Hall
Columbia County
Hudson Hall is a cultural beacon in the Hudson Valley, offering a dynamic year-round schedule of music, theater, dance, literature, and workshops for youth and adults.
Located in an historic landmark that houses New York State's oldest surviving theater, Hudson Hall reopened following a yearlong historic restoration in April 2017. The restored Hudson Hall reflects Hudson's rich history in a modern facility that welcomes residents and visitors from throughout our local community, across the nation, and around the globe.
327 Warren Street Hudson, NY
The Jacob Burns Film Center
Westchester County
The Jacob Burns Film Center is a nonprofit cultural arts center dedicated to: presenting the best of independent, documentary, and world cinema; promoting 21st century literacy; and making film a vibrant part of the community.
364 Manville Rd, Pleasantville, NY
Magazzino Italian Art
Putnam County
Located in Cold Spring, New York, Magazzino Italian Art is a museum and research center dedicated to advancing scholarship and public appreciation of postwar and contemporary Italian art in the United States. The nonprofit museum serves as an advocate for Italian artists as it celebrates the range of their creative practices from Arte Povera to the present. Through its curatorial, scholarly, and public initiatives, Magazzino explores the impact and enduring resonances of Italian art on a global level.
2700 Route 9, Cold Spring, NY
Mahayana Buddhist Temple
Greene County
Open to the public year-round and treasured by Buddhists everywhere, the temple is a fine example of Chinese architecture and culture. At the time of its founding, no other Chinese Buddhist retreats existed on the Eastern Coast of the United States.
710 Ira Vail Road South Cairo, NY
Manitoga/The Russel Wright Design Center
Putnam County
South of Beacon, Manitoga, the Russel Wright Design Center in Garrison, showcases the estate and studio of the industrial designer Russel Wright. His artistically distinctive lifestyle products brought modern design into the households of the American public in the 1950s.
Manitoga, 584 NY-9D, Garrison, NY
New York State Museum
Albany County
Explore the significant natural and cultural diversity of the past and present, from the ice age up to 9/11 and more at the New York State Museum.
222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY
PS21 Performance Spaces for the 21st Century
Columbia County
Summer festival dedicated to presenting the arts of music, dance & film in a beautiful rural setting one mile north of Chatham Village. August Dance Fest features 4 world-class companies.
2980 Route 66 Chatham, NY
Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
Dutchess County
This striking structure designed by architect Frank Gehry is home to the Bard College performing arts program. The center provides audiences with performances and programs in orchestral, chamber, and jazz music, and in theater, dance, and opera.
60 Manor Ave, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art
Ulster County
Take a jaunt to the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz to view an impressive collection ranging from 17th to 20th century American, European, and Asian works. Exhibits place a special emphasis on paintings by Hudson Valley region artists including Hudson River School and the Woodstock Colony for the Arts.
1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, NY
Sand Lake Center for the Arts
Rensselaer County
The Center is a renovated, historically significant 1835 church with a fully equipped open performing space for theatrical productions, community meetings, concerts, gallery exhibits, workshops, and classes.
2880 Route 43, Averill Park, NY
Storm King Art Center
Orange County
500-acre world-renowned outdoor sculpture park where the interaction between the sculpture and surrounding landscape sparks the imagination of all ages. Guided tours daily at 2 p.m. Weekend programs included with admission. Café, picnic area. April - November.
1 Museum Road, New Windsor, NY
The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Rensselaer County
The historic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, built in 1875 and world-renowned for its near perfect acoustics, has hosted performances by legions of first-class artists, from legendary to contemporary artists.
32 Second Street, Troy, NY