The Wallkill River School is a nonprofit artist’s cooperative that runs a gallery and a full art school in Montgomery, NY. The WRS promotes local artists and integrates art into the people’s daily lives. Part of the organization’s mission is to preserve dwindling open spaces and promote small scale farms and our agricultural heritage. The artists often partner with historic sites such as Sugar Loaf Village, organic farms like Phillies Bridge Farm, and nonprofits like Black Rock Forest Consortium to build benefit art auctions, giving participants a chance to sell their work, and help raise money for nonprofits that preserve open spaces. The WRS published a local foods cookbook based on what our farms grow, in season, and where to find it. Look for the cookbook at farmers markets in 2008. The WRS offers plein air workshops on location throughout Orange County from May-Oct, and year-round art classes in the Montgomery gallery. The WRS is committed to buying local, and all our events are zero waste, handicapped-accessible, and carbon neutral.