The Pocantico Center Summer Season Opens June 4

This summer, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund presents a season of free and low-cost programming at The Pocantico Center exploring themes of renewal and reimagination. Performances, tours, and exhibitions will bring new life to historic spaces, enduring artistic traditions, and iconic works of art.

The season opens on June 4 with this is the beginning, this is the end, a performance by renowned choreographer Joanna Kotze examining the cyclical nature of history. Tours of the Marcel Breuer House, Japanese Garden, and the outdoor sculpture collection at Pocantico offer fresh ways to experience the former Rockefeller estate while Kykuit is closed for the 2026 season.

The summer season also introduces two new modern art installations at Pocantico. Woven Wonders: Kykuit’s Picasso Tapestries features Nelson Rockefeller’s collection of wool and silk reinterpretations of paintings by Pablo Picasso, and an outdoor Sculpture Walk showcases works on loan from The Museum of Modern Art by Marino Marini, Ursula von Rydingsvard, and more. Both are accessible with registration for select Pocantico programs, as well as during gallery hours on Fridays and Saturdays through March 2027.

Pocantico will also participate in Upstate Art Weekend (UAW, June 26-28), an annual event celebrating the cultural vibrancy of upstate New York. UAW programming at Pocantico includes an official revival of Ian McKellen’s legendary Acting Shakespeare (June 26), a curator-led tour of Woven Wonders (June 27), and extended gallery hours.

Other season highlights include Martha Graham Dance Company’s 100th anniversary celebration (August 7), an afternoon jazz festival honoring Ken Peplowski (July 25), and the bilingual musical SPANGLISH SH!T (September 18). A complete season calendar is below. All programs require advance registration; tickets are available on our website.

this is the beginning, this is the end
June 4, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
This interdisciplinary performance by choreographer Joanna Kotze layers dance and music to interrogate the phenomenon of history repeating itself. Presented in collaboration with New York Live Arts.

Japanese Garden Tour
June 5, 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
An intimate tour of the Rockefellers’ Japanese-style garden and a conversation on the centuries-old design principles that inform its beautiful simplicity.

Two-Day Watercolor Workshop
June 8-9
Kykuit’s gardens and architecture offer inspiration to explore light, structure, and atmosphere through watercolor techniques.

Marcel Breuer House Art and Furnishings Tour
June 17, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Go inside the iconic “country home for the commuter” to explore its history, restoration, and interiors featuring art and furnishings selected by Marcel Breuer himself.

Summer Garden Walk
June 22, 2:00 p.m.
Experience the unparalleled beauty of Pocantico’s landscapes, from Kykuit’s rose garden to the shrub-lined banks of the brook garden, at the height of summer’s bloom.

Acting Shakespeare: A One-Man Musical
June 26, 7:00 p.m.
This official revival of Sir Ian McKellen’s legendary show weaves Shakespearean monologues with storytelling, humor, history, and music. Presented by Irvington Shakespeare Company.

Curator-Led Tour of Woven Wonders: Picasso’s Kykuit Tapestries
June 27, 2:00 p.m. and August 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
Kykuit curators tell the behind-the-scenes story of Jacqueline de la Baume Dürrbach’s 20-year journey translating Picasso’s paintings into wool and silk.

A Beast That Came Apart Mid-Air
July 16, 7:00 p.m.
This work-in-process dance-theater performance by Kayla Farrish and collaborators imagines possibilities for liberation through magical realism and resistance.

The Spirit of Jazz: A Tribute to Ken Peplowski
July 25, 3:00 p.m.
Celebrate the enduring legacy of clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Ken Peplowski with a performance featuring big band swing, contemporary jazz, and more. Featuring the John Pizzarelli Trio and pianist Rossano Sportiello, presented in collaboration with The National Jazz Museum in Harlem.

Picasso at Pocantico
July 30, 6:00 p.m.
Explore Pablo Picasso’s influence across the former Rockefeller estate, from the monumental tapestries of Woven Wonders to the underground galleries and outdoor sculptures at Kykuit.

Sculpture Tour
July 31, 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Explore Nelson Rockefeller’s collection of outdoor sculptures thoughtfully installed amid Kykuit’s hilltop terraces and gardens overlooking the Hudson.

Martha Graham Dance Company
August 7, 7:00 p.m.
GRAHAM100 celebrates the company’s 100th anniversary and the country’s 250th with choreography by Martha Graham (1937) and Hope Boykin (2026) that reflects determination, resilience, and community.

SPANGLISH SH!T: A Bilingual Brujería Musical
September 18, 7:00 p.m.
This bilingual musical tells the story of Brujita, a Puerto Rican student who must weigh the costs of instant assimilation against holding on to her identity. Presented in collaboration with En Garde Arts.