The permanent collection of the Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz includes more than 5,500 objects. Strengths of the collection include American Art, with an emphasis on the Hudson Valley and Catskill Regions, 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century photography and metals, and a small collection of art decorative arts, and artifacts dating back to ancient times and representing diverse cultures.
An annual Hudson Valley Artist Purchase Award initiated in 2009 has spurred the growth of contemporary art within the collection.
Through its collections and exhibitions, the Dorsky presents a range of world art, serving as a center for arts and culture in the Hudson Valley.