A Taste of Riverworks is Riverworks Art Center’s annual outdoor celebration of creativity, community, and the stunning landscapes of Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve. Each year, we invite local and regional artists to spend the morning painting en plein air at iconic sites throughout the Reserve—capturing barns, vineyards, historic structures, rolling fields, and the quiet beauty that defines our corner of Poolesville.

Festival visitors receive a map and spend the late morning touring the countryside, meeting the artists, and watching the works come to life. In the afternoon, everyone gathers at the Riverworks Outdoor Stage for free live music, food, and the silent auction of the freshly created plein air pieces.

🎨 What the Art Auction Supports

The plein air auction is a core fundraiser for Riverworks Art Center. Proceeds directly support our mission to expand access to the arts, nurture local talent, and build a vibrant creative hub for the entire region. By bidding on a piece, supporters help:

• Grow Riverworks programs — youth arts, community workshops, performances, and creative placemaking

• Support local artists — providing visibility, promotion, and opportunities to showcase their work

• Strengthen arts access — ensuring that art in our community remains welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all

Each painting is a one‑of‑a‑kind snapshot of the Reserve, created in a single day, in a single place, by artists who bring their own vision and voice to the landscape. Purchasing a piece means taking home not just a work of art, but a piece of the story of Riverworks and the land that inspires it.