Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) was originally known as the Broadway Theatre when it opened in 1927—and it has been in continuous use ever since.

Over the decades, the theater has undergone numerous changes, upgrades, improvements, and repairs. By the 1970s, though, its overall condition had deteriorated and it was slated for demolition. At that time, concerned citizens rallied together to rescue it and have it placed on the National Register of Historic Properties.

In 2007, a multi-phase renovation plan was developed and portions of it were set into motion. Phases 1 and 2 totaling $3 million in improvements were completed by 2013, and the theater will reopen in fall 2017 following the Final Phase with many infrastructure upgrades including new HVAC and much-needed restroom expansion!

UPAC not only serves communities across the Hudson Valley with quality arts performances—it’s also a main economic engine in the City of Kingston and for neighboring towns. Audiences who attend shows also patronize local businesses while they are in Kingston as well as along their travel routes across the Mid-Hudson region and beyond.

Bardavon Presents is charged with caring for two of New York State’s historic architectural treasures—and this aspect of our job only grows more significant as our buildings grow older.

Since 1994, we’ve accomplished over $9 million in capital projects at the Bardavon alone—some of the completed work includes structural and exterior stabilization; marquee and façade restoration; HVAC upgrades; improvements to the 35mm and digital projection systems; and stagehouse, box office and lobby renovations.

At UPAC, the list of renovations and upgrades since the merger with the Bardavon in 2007 is also impressive. During the preliminary phases of our plan, we received $2 million in government and private sector funding for improvements to and/or restoration of the surrounding storefronts, façade masonry, auditorium sound-mix position, wheelchair seating, projection booth and 35mm systems, the green room, and the façade building, portico, and stagehouse roofs.

As of 2025, we have completed $22 million dollars in restoration projects but there will always be more work to do when it comes to preserving two National Historic Theaters.

We are grateful that our neighbors and audiences understand the significant role our theaters play in the vitality of the communities we serve. We hope you’ll continue to help us restore our structures so they remain strong for generations to come. You can do so with a gift to the Campaign to Restore & Preserve the Broadway Theatre/UPAC

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies that have generously contributed toward the ongoing renovation of the Bardavon and the Ulster Performing Arts Center.

Your support of our capital fund-raising initiatives including the Campaign for the New Millenium in the 1990s, the Campaign for the New Century in the 2000s, the ongoing Esplanade Walk of Fame , and now the Campaign to Restore & Preserve the Broadway Theatre/UPAC, has been critical to our success.

We gratefully acknowledge the major support we have received from our leading capital donors:

New York State
New York State Council on the Arts
US Department of Housing & Urban Development
US Department of Juvenile Justice
Dutchess County
Ulster County
City of Poughkeepsie
City of Kingston
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley
Arts Mid-Hudson (Formerly the Dutchess County Arts Council)
Dyson Foundation
James J. McCann Charitable Trust
Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust
Jeanette F. Schlobach Charitable Trust
Louis Greenspan Charitable Trust
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Millbrook Tribute Gardens
The Millman Harris Romano Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts

Tax-deferred savings plans like IRAs, 401Ks, and Keogh Accounts are important for many older people to get through their retirement years. But when we, and our spouses, are gone, any remaining funds in these types of accounts are not only subject to income tax, but estate and possibly inheritance and/or generation-skipping taxes. All of this can add up – in some cases to almost 60%!

It is possible to direct that percentage away from taxes toward something that you care about by designating the Bardavon as a beneficiary of your retirement savings plan. The amount you choose is passed directly to the Bardavon instead of remaining with the estate, and is therefore not subject to income, estate, or any other type of tax.

Most plans allow owners to name their beneficiaries online in a few simple steps. And it can be changed just as easily if your plans change.

With ever-shrinking Federal and State funding for the Arts, this is certainly something to think about – we hope you’ll consider naming the Bardavon as a beneficiary of your retirement savings plan.

A Charitable Gift Annuity is an irrevocable arrangement in which a donor makes a substantial gift to a non-profit organization, and the non-profit pays a guaranteed lifetime income to the donor.

It’s a smart way to reduce income tax because it’s tax-deductible in the year in which it’s established. And a portion of the annual income received by the donor may also be tax-free.

In most cases, donations of artwork, real estate, or other assets through a Charitable Gift Annuity usually avoid Federal estate taxes.

In order to begin receiving payments, the donor must be at least 55 years of age, but a Deferred Payment Charitable Gift Annuity can be created at any time.

If you would like to learn more about establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity with the Bardavon, please contact us.

Planned Giving through a bequest offers many advantages to both the donor and the non-profit recipient.

A bequest often allows a donor to make a larger gift than they would be able to through other means of giving. It can also provide significant tax savings for the individual’s estate. The gift is written into the donor’s will, but is revocable if he or she finds it necessary make changes later on.

Bequests can include cash, real estate, securities, artwork, or any other type of property that remains in an estate. And donors can stipulate that the gift support a specific fund, or designate it as unrestricted so that we can apply it to the area in most need at the time. Large bequests are often applied to the endowment, which in turn generates important income on a continuing basis.

The Bardavon staff and officers can work with you and your estate advisors to arrange a bequest. To get started, contact us.