The City of Kingston, NY

    Welcome to the City of Kingston, NY

    Kingston, dating to the arrival of the Dutch in 1652, is a vibrant city with rich history and architecture, was the state's first capital, and a thriving arts community. City Hall is in the heart of the community at 420 Broadway, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except July & August (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).  Come tour our historic City, with restaurants that are among the region's finest, and local shopping that promises unique finds.

    Historic Churches

    Kingston is home to many historic churches. The oldest church still standing is the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Kingston which was organized in 1659. Referred to as The Old Dutch Church, it is located in Uptown Kingston. Many of the city's historic churches populate Wurts street (6 in one block) among them Hudson Valley Wedding Chapel is a recently restored church built in 1867 and now a chapel hosting weddings. Another church in the Rondout is located at 72 Spring Street. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in 1849. The original church building at the corner of Hunter Street and Ravine Street burned to the ground in the late 1850s. The current church on Spring Street was built in 1874.

    Kingston, NY

    Kingston became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British on October 13, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga. In the 19th century, the city became an important transport hub after the discovery of natural cement in the region, and had both railroad and canal connections.

    Kingston, NY

    The town of Rondout, New York, now a part of the city of Kingston, became an important freight hub for the transportation of coal from Honesdale, Pennsylvania to New York City through the Delaware and Hudson Canal. This hub was later used to transport other goods, including bluestone. Kingston shaped and shipped most of the bluestone made to create the sidewalks of New York City.

     

    Contact Us

    City Hall Address:
    420 Broadway
    Kingston, New York
    12401

    Phone:
    (845) 331-0080
    Email:
    [email protected]

    Welcome to the Department of Art & Cultural Affairs 

    The Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs was established in 2018 by Mayor Steve Noble, through partnership with the Kingston Arts Commission. Our mission is to provide the creative community of Kingston with a viable resource at the local level of government.

    In Kingston, the arts and cultural sector is a primary economic driver generating over 1,600 jobs, $57 million in wages, and $167 million in revenue per year. Compared to other New York State cities with similar populations, Kingston has the highest concentration of arts and cultural establishments. Our cultural scene is also a major source of pride and cohesion in the City.  

    To build on these strengths for the benefit of the entire community, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, the Common Council voted unanimously to adopt the Arts and Culture Master Plan 2022, which is aimed at strengthening Kingston's creative economy and supporting individual artists, arts organizations, and businesses. This plan marks the first municipal-led planning project focused solely on the arts in all of Ulster County.

    The Department of Art & Cultural Affairs is charged with oversight and implementation of the plan's strategies which will be achieved through a strategic collaboration between the department, the Kingston Arts Commission, the Priority Task Forces and community groups outlined in the plan, as well as the greater Kingston community. The Plan's tangible objectives include, but are not limited to: strengthening and protecting the arts through policy and funding; ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility; building arts alliances for greater impact; and creating economic opportunities for creatives. Investment in the arts is critical to sustaining and advancing a vibrant future for the city of Kingston.

    For more information, please contact Kitt Potter, Director of Arts and Cultural Affairs at [email protected]

     

    Visit our Tourism section for a complete list of galleries in the City of Kingston.

    If you are interested in filming in Kingston, please click here to learn more.

    To see a map of Kingston's cultural assets, please click here to view our Cultural Asset Inventory. 

    Contact Information

    Director: Kitt Potter

    [email protected]

     
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