Rensselaerville, NY · Est. 1924

Expand your capacity for curiosity.

We believe a more curious society is a more informed and connected one. Hilltown Commons is a nonprofit arts and education campus in Rensselaerville, New York, where inquiry is put into practice through workshops, retreats, and artist residencies. Here, the people are the curriculum.

Year-round programming · Heritage lodging · Expansive grounds

AT A GLANCE

5 Heritage Lodges

50 ensuite rooms, each with cozy linens and private en-suite bathrooms, forest and mountain views, air conditioning & heating, and high-speed WiFi.

Meeting Spaces

An iconic 1970s multi-purpose pavilion featuring a 180-seat auditorium, offices, and breakout rooms—all equipped with state-of-the-art A/V and high-speed WiFi.

Onsite Dining

A historic carriage house-turned restaurant, affectionately referred to as The Pub. Seats up to 120 guests indoors, 300 outdoors, with a menu built on local farm partnerships and a curated beverage program.

90-Acre Grounds

Trails, open fields, and a tennis court, framed by views in every direction. Adjacent to Huyck Preserve, with access to hiking, kayaking, swimming, and more.

FIND YOUR WAY TO THE HILL

Retreats

For teams and organizations

Education-driven foundation and company retreats held on a living campus.

Workshops

Craft retreats, open to all

Hands-on, experiential programming for anyone ready to exchange ideas outside their everyday orbit.

Community Events

Free and local

Film screenings, live music, local fundraisers, and pub nights open to all.

Artist Residency

Time and space for working artists

Support for artists across disciplines, offered as time on the campus and room to work. 


Upcoming Programs

Partner with us.

Co-create programs, convenings, and experiences that bring people together.

We're building a growing ecosystem of collaborations that bring together artists, educators, researchers, nonprofits, and community leaders. Whether you're convening a small group of practitioners or exploring a long-term collaboration, we provide the space, support, and creative partnership to help bring your vision to life.

Historical map of Rensselaerville, showing roads, property boundaries, and landmarks in black and white.
Three people sitting on the grass in front of a modern-style house, engaged in conversation and reading, with a bench and large windows in the background.
A black-and-white photo of a classroom with several students seated around a U-shaped table, and a teacher at the front pointing at a blackboard with diagrams or drawings.
Origins

Since 1924, Hilltown Commons became a gathering place built on a simple instinct: people on shared ground can find common ground.