Dinners & Dialogues

6415635749_0ac4ba6d3e_bDinners & Dialogues is the newest initiative, in partnership with the National Young Farmers Coalition, to promote Ulster County’s vibrant cultural wealth while maintaining our commitment to advance the careers of local women. Through a series of free group dinners, WSW and our partners connect locally sourced and prepared food, artists working in WSW’s studios, and the Greater Rosendale community.

Guests are invited to share a meal catered by a regional chef and engage in open discussion with resident artists. Dinners & Dialogues expands our capacity to serve artists by showcasing the their work and creating a platform for the artists and local audiences to interact. The program strengthens ties between the local foods movement, regional agriculture, and the arts to build a stronger, more prosperous Hudson Valley.

In line with our founding principles, we prioritize the hiring of female chefs and farmers and promote the representation of women in their respective fields. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, farms with female principal operators accounted for 3.3% of total U.S. agriculture sales. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that, in 2012, out of 403,000 people employed as chefs or head cooks in the U.S., fewer than a quarter were women.

Dinners & Dialogues is a collaboration between the Women’s Studio Workshop, the National Young Farmers Coalition, the Rondout Valley Business Association, the Rondout Valley Growers Association, and Re>Think Local.