POUGHKEEPSIE – Bardavon Presents and the Poughkeepsie Public Arts Commission (PPAC) are launching a new collaborative partnership with a free community screening of the 1997 romantic drama Love Jones, rated R, as part of the City of Poughkeepsie’s celebration of Black History Month.
The screening will be held at7:30 PM at the historic Bardavon 1869 Opera House on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Doors will open at 7:00 PM, welcoming guests with a live pre-show DJ set curated byPoughkeepsie native DJ Tommy Didit (Tommydidit).
Bardavon’s Executive Director, Bryan Zellmer, said, “The Bardavon has always belonged to the people of this region—we have been bringing communities together since 1869… This partnership with PPAC is part of our commitment to reaching every part of our community, listening deeply, and ensuring everyone feels that these historic doors are open to them. I’m thrilled to see our first joint project come to life and excited for the many more to come, including some live events and concerts that are in the works now for the very near future.”
The four commissioners of PPAC, Tim McQueen (Chair), Carrie Decker (Secretary), Chris Burney, and Ty Johnson, have been actively engaged in developing this partnership and look forward to long-term collaborations that reflect community input and build new cultural opportunities in the city. PPAC Chair, Tim McQueen, stated, “This collaboration with the Bardavon has been a year in the making, and it grows from real conversations about listening to our community and creating the kinds of arts programming they want. Bryan said something early on that stuck with me: ‘We want the community to tell us what they want — not the other way around.’ That spirit is at the heart of this partnership. This free screening of Love Jones is just the beginning. We are excited to keep building programs with—and for—the people of Poughkeepsie.”
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