our impact
In 2025, The Bay School welcomed 8,141 visitors to the Art Speaks Gallery for ten exhibitions and 19 special events. 537 individual students took part in 100 art classes and 14 summer art camps, equaling 4,187 student visits to The Bay School. 47 children attended free weekly OpenArts After School program, completing a variety of art projects and learning creative problem-solving skills with benefit far outside the art classroom. The community pottery studio has 37 active members and hosts the Clay by the Bay Ceramic Guild.
Patient and compassionate teaching artists brought art-making experiences to 12 groups of individuals in the county, with preschools and special education classrooms, programs for adults with intellectual disabilities, and seniors at the Active Lifestyle Center and the Riverside Center for Lifelong Health and Rehabilitation. Four of these programs are with Mathews County Schools. The Bay School has been serving these special populations at no charge for over 20 years.
The Bay School partners on educational programs with the Mathews Family YMCA, Mathews County Library, Mathews County Cooperative Extension, and the Mathews County Coalition 4 Kids. Cultural and community partnerships include the Mathews Visitor Information Center, Mathews Main Street Committee, Made in Mathews Open Studio Tour, Mathews Market Days, Mathews May Faire, Mathews Rotary, and Tour de Chesapeake. The Bay School’s annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser for Hands Across Mathews raised $24,000 to feed hungry county residents in December.
The Bay School provides life-changing art experiences to thousands of people and is the creative heartbeat of Mathews County.
2026 Quarterly Impact Reports
Read below to see what we are accomplishing this year!
1st Quarter: January - March
In the coldest days of the year, we:
- 20 teaching artists led 197 adult students in 33 classes in art and craft.
- Created art with 51 youth in our OpenArts After School program.
- Conducted 64 Community Arts Outreach sessions with 10 partners, serving 142 individuals of all ages and abilities.
- Connected 48 local and regional artists with patrons through sales in the Art Speaks Gallery.
- Made plans to expand our Art in the Alley community project to include a mural and a chalkboard!