Orange County, New York -- NEA Our Town Grant

The Wallkill River School, in Montgomery, NY, and several Orange County partners, recieved an Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to explore the connections between Arts and Agriculture in four different ways:
1. Hold four meetings in the County to get arts and ag people brainstorming about common ground and mutually-beneficial events. September 8 at the Wallkill River School in Montgomery, NY. September 26 at Soons Orchard in New Hampton . October 13 at The Citizen's Foundation in Sugar Loaf, NY and November 2 at Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville.
2. Continue The Wallkill River's popular program of plein air painting events on farms throughout the County.
3. With the Orange County Department of Planning, complete an economic impact study on both arts and agriculture in Orange County.
4. Encourage City-to-Farm activities. Orange County is a key region in the New York City Foodshed and we want to develop stronger ties with city-based groups interested in agriculture, local food, sustainable living and underscore the importance of arts in this.

November 20. 2011
We are about four months into this project and are now looking for the right group of artists and farmers to create programming for the next season(s). If the information in these blogs interests you, please COMMENT and make yourself known.... and contact the Orange County Arts info@ocartscouncil.org